Work with USB Devices
Applies To: Windows MultiPoint Server 2011
This topic discusses how USB devices function when they are connected to a computer in your MultiPoint Server system or to a MultiPoint Server station. In addition, this topic contains sections about how to connect a USB hub or multifunction hub to create a MultiPoint Server station or to provide additional USB ports for devices.
You can connect devices to either the computer in your MultiPoint Server system or to a MultiPoint Server station hub. The location where a device is connected, and the type of device, affects whether a device is available to all users on the system, or only to individual users. The following are examples of the different connection types:
If you connect a device directly to the computer, such as a printer or USB mass storage device, the device can be accessed by all users on the MultiPoint Server system.
If a keyboard, mouse, or audio device is connected to a station hub, the device is available only to the user logged on to that MultiPoint Server station.
If you connect other devices besides a keyboard, mouse, or audio device to a station hub, such as USB mass storage devices or USB printers, those devices are available to all users on the system.
If you add or remove a keyboard, mouse, or audio device when the system is running, the device addition or removal affects only the session to which the device is associated. For example, if you connect a mouse to a station hub, the mouse is automatically added to that station.
The following table shows a list of devices and how they behave, depending on where they are connected to the system. Information about how to connect station hubs is described in the Working with station hubs, later in this topic. More information about how to connect video monitors to a station is described in the Work with Video Devices topic.
Device |
Behavior when it is connected directly to the computer |
Behavior when it is connected to a station |
Notes |
Keyboard |
We do not recommend connecting a keyboard directly to the computer. |
Accessible only to the station user. |
PS/2 keyboards are supported. If the keyboard contains a USB port, any keyboard, mouse, audio device, or USB storage device that is attached to that port is available only to the user who is using that keyboard. |
Mouse |
We do not recommend connecting a mouse directly to the computer. |
Accessible only to the station user. |
If the mouse contains built-in memory, the memory storage is available to all users on the system. |
USB hub |
See the Working with station hubs section later in this topic. |
See the Working with station hubs section later in this topic. |
|
Video monitor |
|||
Audio output devices such as headphones |
We do not recommend connecting an audio output device directly to the computer. |
Accessible only to the station user. |
The station hub might be equipped with either analog or USB audio connections. |
Audio input devices such as microphones |
We do not recommend connecting an audio input device directly to the computer. |
Accessible only to the station user. |
The station hub might be equipped with either analog or USB audio connections. |
Printers |
Accessible to all users on the system. |
Accessible to all users on the system. |
|
USB mass storage device |
Accessible to all users on the system. |
Accessible to only the station user, with the exception of digital cameras, which may still be accessible to all users, depending on their configuration with the system. |
These devices include USB flash drives, external hard disk drives, and digital cameras. |
Web cameras |
Accessible to all users on the system. |
Accessible only to the station user. |
Only one user can connect to the camera at a time. |
For more information about how to set up a station, see Set Up a Station.
Working with station hubs
There are three scenarios for how a station hub can be used when it is connected to a MultiPoint Server system. Each of the following scenarios provides different access to the devices that are connected to it, depending on the type of station hub and where it is connected to the system.
A station hub connected to the computer in your MultiPoint Server system can be used to create a MultiPoint Server station. A keyboard and mouse are connected to the station hub using the ports that are available on the hub. A video monitor is connected to a video port on the computer or to a video adapter on the station hub, if available. The keyboard, mouse, and monitor are then associated with a MultiPoint Server station.
A USB hub connected to the computer in your MultiPoint Server system can be used to connect additional devices to the computer when there are not enough ports on the computer for the required devices. All devices connected to this USB hub are available to all users of the MultiPoint Server system. This is not considered a MultiPoint Server station.
A powered USB hub connected to the computer in your MultiPoint Server system, also known as an intermediate hub, can be used to connect additional USB or multifunction hubs that are used to create MultiPoint Server stations. Each USB or multifunction hub that is connected to this intermediate hub could be a station hub with a keyboard and mouse plugged into it. A monitor connected to a video card on the computer or to a video adapter on the station hub, if available, is associated with the MultiPoint Server station. Any keyboard, mouse, or audio device connected to the station hub is available only to the user of the MultiPoint Server station.
For more information about how to set up a MultiPoint Server station, see Set Up a Station.
See Also
Concepts
Work with Video Devices
Manage Station Hardware
Set Up a Station