microsoft / microsoft/WSL

Ability to connect WSL to remote USB interfaces with Digi Anywhere USB

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#12,980 3 comments 1 reaction 0 assignees View on GitHub
feature
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Description

Problem: need to test embedded devices located in a lab, while using WSL2. The lab has Digi's AnywhereUSB devices.
1) cannot use USBIPD (it does not recognize the remote hub as a usb hub)
2) cannot use Digi's debian package on WSL
3) cannot export serial ports directly from Windows11 to WSL

**Describe the solution you'd like**
A standard way to be able to use kernel drivers and, hopefully, some of the well-known drivers available as modules.
and/or
A way to fix USBIPD to recognize remote hubs or at least remote ports or remote devices.

**Describe alternatives you've considered**
Tried to "make" Digi's AnywhereUSB RealPort debian package, it fails on WSL
Tried connecting the usb port from windows to WSL, usbipd fails.
Tried mapping a serial port directly, it fails (the remote device is an FTDI cable and it cannot map the serial port to one that WSL sees directly).

**Additional context**
Win11, WSL2, Ubuntu - attempting to use a remote usb-to-serial FTDI cable connected to a Digi AnywhereUSB remote USB hub.
Port connects fine to the win11 host, just not to Linux.

```
C:\>usbip list
Connected:
BUSID VID:PID DEVICE STATE
0403:6001 USB Serial Converter Incompatible hub
...
```

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start by reproducing the WSL2 setup with a Digi AnywhereUSB remote hub and the remote FTDI cable, then run `usbip list` to confirm the reported `Incompatible hub` state. Done would mean a standard WSL path can access the remote USB device, or usbipd recognizes the remote hub, ports, or devices.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
linux, ubuntu
Domain
embedded-iot, operating-systems
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
18/100

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