VMware ESXi: Persistent USB NIC Binding

Description

The original script on the Fling page did not offer an easy way to add uplinks to vSwitches and specific portgroups on USB NICs without copying and/or re-writing bigger parts of the script. This is a more flexible and extended script allowing to simply use one-line commands to do the job for you. See more details below.

Installation

1. Install fling USB Network Native Driver for ESXi as instructed (ignore the script part on linked page)
2. Copy content from script vusb.sh
3. Add script right above exit 0 in /etc/rc.local.d/local.sh on your VMware ESXi hypervisor
4. Add vusbnic_setup commands to modify the vSwitches/portgroups based on your needs.

For example the local.sh file might look like:

#!/bin/sh

# local configuration options

# Note: modify at your own risk!  If you do/use anything in this
# script that is not part of a stable API (relying on files to be in
# specific places, specific tools, specific output, etc) there is a
# possibility you will end up with a broken system after patching or
# upgrading.  Changes are not supported unless under direction of
# VMware support.

# Note: This script will not be run when UEFI secure boot is enabled.

# <SCRIPT_CONTENT>
vusbnic_setup()
{
    [...]
}
# </SCRIPT_CONTENT>

vusbnic_setup vusb0,vusb1 vSwitch1 M-Management,M-ServerA
vusbnic_setup vusb2 vSwitch2 M-ServerB

exit 0

Examples

Specify multiple vusb devices with same vSwitch and portgroups

$ vusbnic_setup vusb0,vusb1 vSwitch1 M-Management,M-ServerA
Processing device vusb0...
 Adding uplink vusb0 to vSwitch vSwitch1...
  Adding portgroup M-Management...
  Adding portgroup M-ServerA...
Processing device vusb1...
 Adding uplink vusb1 to vSwitch vSwitch1...
  Adding portgroup M-Management...
  Adding portgroup M-ServerA...

Otherwise vusb settings can be specified separately, if they differ

$ vusbnic_setup vusb0 vSwitch0 M-Management
Processing device vusb0...
 Adding uplink vusb0 to vSwitch vSwitch0...
  Adding portgroup M-Management...

$ vusbnic_setup vusb1 vSwitch1 M-ServerA
Processing device vusb1...
 Adding uplink vusb0 to vSwitch vSwitch1...
  Adding portgroup M-ServerA...