High-Level and Low-Level Device Redirection

Peripheral device redirection generally follows one of two approaches: low-level USB redirection or high-level, device-specific redirection. Each method has its strengths and limitations depending on the use case.

Low-level USB redirection: bitwise perfect

Low-level USB redirection works by forwarding the entire USB communication stream from the local device to the remote virtual environment. The remote system interacts with the device as if it were physically connected. This method is flexible and broadly compatible, supporting a wide range of USB devices — including those that lack dedicated redirection support.

However, it requires the native USB device drivers to be present on the remote side, which may be an issue in locked-down or virtualized systems. It may also introduce higher latency and greater bandwidth consumption, especially with complex or data-heavy devices.

USB redirection also presents a challenge in multi-user environments, such as Windows Servers. By default, redirected USB devices may become visible or accessible to all logged-in users on the remote system, raising concerns about data privacy, security, and resource conflicts. To address this, FabulaTech introduces per-session USB device isolation, ensuring that devices are tied to the specific user's session — a feature that works reliably with many USB device types.

High-level device redirection: only meaningful data

High-level, device-specific redirection focuses on redirecting only the functional data needed by a particular device type (e.g., webcam streams, scanned images, audio input/output). This approach is more efficient, requires less bandwidth, and completely eliminates the need for remote-side drivers. Its limitation, however, is that it’s restricted to supported device categories and cannot accommodate custom or less common hardware.

With support for both USB-level and device-level redirection, FabulaTech gives organizations the flexibility to choose the right method for each scenario—or combine both for a more tailored redirection strategy.

Feature / Factor	USB-Level Redirection	Device-Level Redirection
Compatibility	Works with almost any USB device	Limited to supported device types
Driver requirement (remote side)	Yes, requires native device drivers	No, typically driverless on remote side
Performance and bandwidth	Higher bandwidth usage; more latency-sensitive	Optimized for performance and bandwidth
Ease of setup	May require manual driver setup and configuration	Usually easier to deploy for supported devices
Security in multi-user environments	Devices may be accessible to all users by default	Session-specific by design
FabulaTech enhancement	Supports per-session USB device isolation	Fully integrated, device-specific redirection modules
Use case flexibility	Ideal for unique or unsupported devices	Ideal for common devices with known functions
Stability and reliability	Depends on USB stack and driver quality	More stable, as it bypasses low-level USB handling

FabulaTech solutions: covering every redirection scenario

As mentioned, to meet a wide range of remote desktop needs, FabulaTech offers both low-level and high-level redirection solutions, ensuring maximum flexibility and compatibility across various devices and use cases.

Low-level (universal)

High-level (device-specific)

See also

• Getting started with FabulaTech remote desktop solutions
• Documentation for each product can be found in the Technical Support section