To identify the speed of your USB device, check the /var/adm/messages file for messages similar to the following:
Dec 13 17:05:57 mysystem usba: [ID 912658 kern.info] USB 2.0 device (usb50d,249) operating at hi speed (USB 2.x) on USB 2.0 external hub: storage@4, scsa2usb0 at bus address 4
Except where indicated, Oracle Solaris supports USB devices on both SPARC and x86 based systems. Additional storage devices might work by modifying the scsa2usb.conf file. For more information, see the scsa2usb(7D) man page.
The following sections provide additional information about specific USB devices.
USB hubs are not self-powered. They supply power to connected devices by deriving it from the USB bus to which they are connected. Consequently, and also because of power management, power to these downstream devices is limited. Therefore, avoid overloading these hubs. Note specifically the following limitations:
You cannot cascade two bus-powered hubs.
Each bus-powered hub is limited to a maximum of 100 mA only for each port.
You can connect only self-powered or low bus-powered devices, not high bus-powered devices, to a bus-powered hub.
Some hubs or devices can report a false power source. With such hubs, the connection might be unpredictable.
On SPARC based systems, do not remove the keyboard and mouse during a system reboot or at the ok prompt. During the boot process, the OpenBoot PROM (OBP) limits keyboard and mouse devices to the motherboard root hub ports only. You can move the keyboard and mouse to another hub at any time after a system reboot. These devices become fully functional after you plug them to their ports.
On SPARC based systems, note the following issues with regards to these devices:
The power key behaves differently between a USB keyboard and a type 5 keyboard. On a USB keyboard, the SUSPEND/SHUTDOWN key suspends or shuts down the system. However, that key cannot power up the system.
On legacy SPARC based systems, USB keyboard and mouse devices do not work simultaneously with Type 3, 4, or 5 keyboards.
For information about multiple keyboard and mouse device support, see the virtualkm(7D) man page.
The USB host controller has an embedded hub called the root hub whose ports are visible on the system's back panel.
When using USB hubs, avoid the following:
Cascading hubs beyond four levels on either SPARC based systems or x86 based systems. On SPARC systems, the OpenBoot PROM cannot reliably probe beyond four levels of devices.
Cascading bus-powered hubs. A bus-powered hub does not have its own power supply.
Connecting to a bus-powered hub a device that requires a large amount of power, such as a USB diskette drive, which might drain the hub of power for other devices. Bus-powered hubs might deny connection to these devices.