USB over VPN Passthrough: Secure Remote Access to USB Devices

1. USB Network Gate

USB Network Gate is a widely-used USB passthrough solution. A USB Network Gate setup typically consists of a device host - the computer that has USB devices attached to it - and the client, which can remotely access the USB devices connected to the host. The computer behind the VPN can be either a client or a host, and you can both share your devices and access remote ones at the same time.

USB Network Gate is designed to work with a larger variety of USB devices than remote access solutions can typically handle. For example, 3D mice and biometrics work perfectly with it. The app can also handle video and audio devices, such as webcams or office peripherals, including printers and scanners.

USB Network Gate also provides a wide range of connection and security settings, and allows empty ports to be shared for device hot-swapping.

Here is some benefits:

✅ Low latency
✅ Encryption support
✅ Works with rarely-supported devices
✅ Extensive connection settings
✅ Available for Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and ARM platforms

2. VirtualHere

VirtualHere is a USB passthrough solution that can be applied to situations where the server and the client need to connect through a VPN. It works with common peripherals, such as USB headsets, printers, gamepads, and similar devices.

VirtualHere’s main advantage is that its server applications are optimized for many different processor types, both when it comes to ARM and for x86_64. This is helpful for situations where latency needs to be minimal, such as gaming input. However, this degree of optimization only applies to the Linux clients, while Windows and macOS users will have to settle for general-purpose, unoptimized clients.

However, VirtualHere has a major disadvantage - each license is bound to the server hardware, and, after activation, can not be transferred. This means that, if your hardware were to break, you’d have to re-buy VirtualHere as well.

✅ Works with common peripherals
✅ High optimization is possible on Linux and ARM systems
✅ License is bound to hardware

RDP-specific USB Passthrough Tips

RDP supports a decent variety of USB hardware, and, in most cases, you can enable passthrough in the official Microsoft client, “Remote Desktop Connection”. However, things get a lot more difficult if USB passthrough is being restricted by a Windows security policy.

Generally, video, audio, and storage USB devices should work, as well as printers. If they don’t, look in the client settings. Otherwise, ask the network administrator.

One thing you can’t do with RDP is access the remote computer’s USB peripherals as if they are connected to the client computer. If you need similar functionality, USB over VPN solutions are your only choice.

In conclusion

If you can’t get RDP or other remote access software to establish USB passthrough, or are using a VPN without any remote access, then you need a USB over VPN application. We recommend USB Network Gate in most cases, especially when you’re working on Windows or macOS - it’s flexible and powerful. On the other hand, VirtualHere has its uses in some niche cases, such as device-specific optimization for ARM chips and Linux OSes.