Hyper-V VMConnect web camera in VM?

Question

I have a few VMs in Hyper-V. I want one of these VMs to be able to use my host web cam, which is a USB Logitech cam, for use in MS Teams.

Using gpedit on the host, I set:
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Connection Client\RemoteFX USB Device Redirection\Allow RDP redirection of other supported RemoteFX devices from this computer = Enabled for Administrators and users

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Session Host\Device and Resource Direction\Do not allow video capture redirection = Disabled

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Session Host\Device and Resource Direction\Do not allow supported Plug and Play device redirection = Disabled

Performed "gpupdate /force" and rebooted host

In theory, this should allow me to run "vmconnect.exe localhost <vmname> /edit", and then click "Show Options", click the "Local Resources" tab, Click the "More" button, and then see my camera under "Other supported RemoteFX USB Devices".

In reality, I have seen this option exactly twice ever. I have zero idea what magic I performed to make it show. On those two occasions, I was able to allow the camera in the VM connect session, and the setting remained for a fairly long time. BUT, that setting is sometimes "lost". But right now, I cannot find any way to apply that setting for the VM again. I have tried setting ant unsetting the gpedit settings, rebooting host and guest VM countless times, nothing makes the option available.

So, is there some reliable repeatable action that I can perform to make this option appear so that I can use my host USB web camera in the Hyper-VM guest through the VMConnect?

Note that this option is actually available on the mstsc.exe UI, but I am not able to use MSTSC.exe to connect to this VM, and am restricted to using VMConnect.exe.

Note also that this "issue" appears to be fuly the fault of the host, not the guests. On the two occasions where "Other supported RemoteFX USB devices" appeated for the VM, it appeared for all VMs, which are all quiet different configurations. When it disappeared, it disappeared for all guests.

Thank you for any help.
David

Answer 1

OK, for anyone who finds this in the future, I have resolved this issue.
At some point in the past, I had removed the Logitech Capture software from the VM where I wanted to use the Logitech camera. This was a mistake on my part.

Given a setup as outlined in my initial question, all I needed extra was to re-install the Logitech Capture software on the VM.

I think what I have discovered is actually a bug in VMConnect.exe. When Logitech Capture was removed from the VM, while the Logitech USB web cam was attached to that VM with RemoteFX USB redirection, it broke RemoteFX USB redirection for all VMs. The entire RemoteFX USB redirection feature stopped working for all available USB devices and for all VMs.

All I did today was notice that Logitech Capture was not on the VM (and therefore the driver was not on the VM), reinstall it, and the RemoteFX USB redirection feature returned for all 4 of my VMs, and for all 3 of the available USB devices.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

I will note some ODD behaviour from VMConnect.

If I open Hyper-V Manager and right click on my VM, and click "Connect", then the connection is opened in Enhanced Session Mode.

But, If I instead open Hyper-V Manager and right click on my VM, and click "Edit Session Settings", then I can go in and attempt to add the Camera as a device in the VM, but, the connection is ALWAYS in basic mode when I click "Edit Session Settings". I would assume that the camera cannot be added in Basic mode, because RemoteFX Usb sharing is not possible in Basic Mode.

I do not know if this indicates the issue, but the behaviour is counterintuitive.

If I instead run
vmconnect.exe localhost myvm /edit
then i will see the edit session settings window, and the resulting session seems to be in Enhanced session mode. But again, I can still not select my camera for use in the VM.

David