Issue Description

User feedback that newly purchased QR / Barcode scanner showing abnormal readings when using on VDI but able to read normally when using on physical PC.

Error/Warning Information

Handling Process

1. Understand how the scanner works, whether requires to install any additional software or drivers.

2. Checked the product website, no software/drivers available to download.

3. Check on the device manager, and found that the scanner is being identified as ‘HID Keyboard Device’.
   

4. Login to VDI, and launch the VM and check [Device Manager] , found that the scanner does not appear on the list although still able to scan the QR codes and display them on the VM. (abnormal characters).

5. Suspect that this is due to the VM does not have the necessary driver installed so the generated text becomes abnormal.

6. Configure a USB whitelist under [Mappings] on VDC and allow this device.
   

   **Make sure the same PID:VID is not configured under [Document Scanners] and [Advanced].

7. Login to VDI again, and the device is mapped to VM successfully.

8. Windows auto-detects the device and installs the drivers automatically.

9. A new HID keyboard device appears under [Device Manager] on the Virtual Machine.

Root Cause

The scanner is connected via a dongle. The scanner shall appear as ‘HID Keyboard device’ under the VM [Device Manager] to work properly.

HID mode is the scanner’s factory mode, and is intended to work with a wide variety of other devices. In this mode, the scanner mimics a Bluetooth keyboard, and requires tapping or clicking a text field before scanning.

Solution

Configure a USB whitelist and map the USB into VM. Windows will auto-detect and add the device as a HID Keyboard device.