Tag Archives: usb

Disable VMware Workstation / Player from automatically connecting new usb devices

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Meant for convenience, but annoying after a while, VMware enables by default the option to “Automatically connect new USB devices” on all virtual machines this means the VM will grab the USB device away from the Host OS and connect it to the running virtual machine. While convenient, just because a USB device is connected to the host OS that does not meant I want to use it on the VM.

Disabling this feature only takes a few minutes, and can be re-enabled at any time. The only downside is that it has to be done on each virtual machine individually, at least that I know of.

Steps

First of all Start Vmware Workstation and select the virtual machine you wish to make the change to.

On the virtual machine Click on Edit Virtual Machine Setting

Select USB Controller > and uncheck Automatically connect new USB devices and click on OK to save the changes.

I would recommend you perform this steps every time a new virtual machine is create it.

10 Portable Applications To Consider – Part 3

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Flash drives can do more than just store files, they can also be used to run applications on any computer. Which is why I’ve decided to list 10 of my favorite portable applications.

The criteria used to select the applications is as follow:

  1. Free
  2. Requires no major modifications to run from Flash media
  3. Lightweight and small
  4. Useful and non-obstructive
  5. No major limitations

While not a complete list I’ve decided to list most of the applications in my Flash drive and give the list its own page www.linhost.info/usb-tools/. I will update the list as I find more useful software.

SNMPTrafficGrapher

This freeware utility allows monitoring of supporting SNMPv1 and SNMPv2c devices including Cisco, Livingstone, Riverstone etc.

Awesome portable tool for when need graphing on the move.

Download: SNMPTrafficGrapher

Netcat

Netcat is a computer networking service for reading from and writing network connections using TCP or UDP.

The venerable Netcat is available in Windows and best of all you can carry it with you, no installation necessary.

Download: Netcat for Windows

Disk Usage

Du (disk usage) reports the disk space usage for the directory you specify. By default it recurses directories to show the total size of a directory and its subdirectories.

This should be part of any installation.

Download: Disk Usage

YAPS

Fast TCP/IP port scanner.

* Supports simultaneous connecting to many targets
* Supports command line and GUI mode
* Customisable timeout
* Can scan range of addresses, or single address
* Can resolve addresses
* Includes names for well known ports

I like the simplicity of YAPS for scanning hosts on the go.

Download: YAPS

Eraser Portable

Eraser is a secure data removal tool for Windows. It completely removes sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it several times with carefully selected patterns.

Download: Eraser 5.8.8 Portable.zip

USB Image Tool

USB Image Tool can create images of USB flash drives and MP3 players, that are mounted as USB drives. It allows you switch between images with different music styles on your MP3 Player or to make an exact backup image of your USB Stick.

The best USB imaging tool so far, it supports compression.

Download: USB Image Tool

Process Explorer

Process Explorer shows you information about which handles and DLLs processes have opened or loaded.

Download: Process Explorer

Iperf.exe

Iperf is a commonly used network testing tool that can create TCP and UDP data streams and measure the throughput of a network that is carrying them.

Industry standard for measuring network performance.

Download: iperf.exe

RealTemp

Real Temp is a temperature monitoring program designed for all Intel single Core, Dual Core, Quad Core and Core i7 processors.

Download: Real Temp

ConnectionMonitor

Pings hosts at regular intervals, to determing if your connection is working, and generate a log of the results.

They say the host is fine, you say otherwise. With ConnectionManager you can prove your point and the one who loses has to spend the weekend with the Chairmen of the Board(if you know what I mean!).

Download: ConnectionMonitor

Don’t Trow Away That 16MB SD Card

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Use it to run Monowall an embedded firewall that is available in a 8.53 MB(.img) image. Specifically, I opted to download the generic-pc-1.33.img image which can be used on CF/HD/USB drives and works on my VIA C3 firewall.

And if you are wondering how in this day and age any one could get hold of a 16MB SD card, well let me you that it came with my Canon digital camera. BTW, I am working on a post titled: How To Install Monowall From A USB Drive.

USB Flash Drive Imaging Tools

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If you are like me, then you are probably constantly making changes your USB Flash Drives. This is fine if all you do is work with small capacity drives, but in the case of large capacity ones it becomes a pains. Which is why I decided to write about two simple yet useful tools that can help you create an exact copy of a USB drive, the image can be restored at a later time.

Imaging will create a one time copy, which can be used to restore at a later time.

USB Image Tool

USB Image Tool

Official description:

USB Image Tool can create images of USB flash drives and MP3 players, that are mounted as USB drives. It allows you switch between images with different music styles on your MP3 Player or to make an exact backup image of your USB Stick.

USB Image Tool is rather full featured for what it does, asides from creating exact copies of any storage device that makes use of the USB Mass Storage Protocol it can also compress the resulting image if you like. Also useful is the ability to list several image as your favorites, useful if you tend to frequently restore the same image repeatedly. USB Image Tool uses the .IMG file extension.

Features: Creates exact copies and restores copies. Image compression. Portable requires no installation. Free.
Download: USB Image Tool

Win32Disk Imager

Win32Disk Imager

Although, the name seems to imply that its only capable of wring images, Win32Disk Imager is equally capable of creating an image from any storage device that makes use of the USB Mass Storage Protocol. Out of the two Win32Disk Imager has the simplest interface of the two and it also lacks some of the features found on USB Image Tool. Win32Disk Imager uses the .IMG file extension.

Features: Creates exact copies and restores copies. Really simple interface. Portable requires no installation. Free.
Download: Win32Disk Imager

Both options are great, I guess it all comes down to the interface and which one makes more sense to you. If you have any questions leave a comment below.