VMware Workstation 7.x and earlierVMware Workstation 7.x and earlier detects and connects to USB devices attached through USB 2.0 or USB 1.1 host controllers only.
If a USB device is attached to the host machine through a USB 3.0 host controller, the device is not detected by VMware Workstation and cannot be connected to a virtual machine. VMware products use the default USB controller on the host, not the driver that comes with the USB hardware.
VMware Workstation 8.xVMware Workstation 8.x is only compatible with the NEC xHCI driver and it supports connecting to USB 3.0 devices. Each USB 3.0 vendor implements their own drivers. VMware only supports NEC xHCI drivers. On Windows hosts, the connection will be USB 2.0. The workaround to connect to USB 2.0/1.1 is still applicable for unsupported vendors.
VMware only supports NEC xHCI drivers on Windows hosts, and this only supports USB 2.0 on these ports. As mentioned in the release notes, Windows guest operating systems do not support USB 3.0 devices.
VMware Workstation 9.xFor detailed information regarding VMware Workstation 9.x, see
Host and guest OS USB 3.0 and virtual xHCI support with Workstation 9 (2041591).