USB Ports on Devices Such as Servers and Network Switches

[iamk3]

What is the best method for accounting for USB ports on devices such as Servers, NAS, Network Switches, etc... I have several of these type where we are using the USB ports in a variety of ways and I'd really like to make sure those connections and such are documented in Netbox.

[DanSheps]

Short answer: don't unless the USB port is a console port (Cisco Catalyst, etc)

[goteamkor]

I agree. this would be challenging. USB ports aren't typically labeled in any meaningful way on servers. How are you sure that what you say is USB port 3 is what someone else looks at the back of the server and also considers USB port 3?

When you have 3 banks of 2 ports each .. which one is port 3? from the left? from the right? is it across? or stacked? very confusing.

[candlerb]

If it's a USB type A then I make it "console server port" and if it's USB type B (or mini B or micro B) then I make it "console port". That's correct for the case of USB consoles, but should also work for other USB uses.

You can make USB hubs as devices with one console port and multiple console server ports.

Fortunately I've never had to deal with USB C in a data centre, but I guess you'd have to assign roles: console server port for the "PC / controller" side and console port for the "peripheral" side.