Accessing an External USB Drive from a Windows Server VM on Proxmox

If you have files on an external USB drive connected to your Proxmox host and need to access them from a Windows Server virtual machine (VM), you can use Proxmox’s USB passthrough feature. This method is simple and ideal for one-time or occasional file access, requiring no additional software.

Why Use This Method?

Simplicity: Uses Proxmox’s built-in tools, no extra installations needed.
Native Support: Windows Server recognizes common drive formats like NTFS without additional setup.
Flexibility: Easily attach or detach the drive as needed.

Steps to Access the USB Drive

Unmount the Drive on the Proxmox Host
Ensure the drive isn’t in use on the host. Unmount it using:
```
umount /path/to/mountpoint
```
Check it’s unmounted:
```
df -h
```
Identify the USB Device
Run this command to list USB devices:
```
lsusb
```
Note the device’s identifying details (like Bus and Device numbers).
Add the USB Device to the VM
- In the Proxmox web interface, select your Windows Server VM.
- Navigate to Hardware > Add > USB Device.
- Choose the USB drive from the list and add it.
Start or Restart the VM
Power on the VM or restart it to detect the USB device.
Access the Drive in the VM
- Log into the VM and open File Explorer.
- The drive should appear as a new drive letter (e.g., D:\).
(Optional) Remove the USB Device
- In the Proxmox web interface, go to the VM’s Hardware tab.
- Select the USB device and click Remove.
- Restart the VM if needed.

Notes

Make sure the drive isn’t being used by the host before passing it to the VM.
This works well for occasional access and is fully reversible.
The drive should be in a format Windows Server supports, like NTFS.

This approach lets you quickly access your USB drive’s files from your Windows Server VM with minimal hassle.