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Should an os provide usb pass-through support for docker containers and other virtual machines?

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AI Overview
Yes, host operating systems should natively support USB pass-through, as it remains the most reliable way to interact with physical hardware (e.g., smart card readers, security keys, or Zigbee adapters) from virtualized or isolated environments. However, the implementation depends heavily on the platform and virtualization architecture. 
Virtual Machines (VMs)
For Type-2 hypervisors and VMs, native OS/hypervisor-level pass-through is absolutely essential. 

    The Good: Platforms like VMware natively allow passing individual USB controllers or devices directly into the guest OS.
    The Challenge: Hypervisors tightly tied to host OS kernels (like Microsoft Hyper-V) typically restrict direct USB pass-through for security and architecture reasons, requiring workarounds like USB over IP. 

Docker Containers
Containers share the host operating system's kernel, which changes how they handle hardware.
On Native Linux Hosts: 
Pass-through is straightforward. The OS doesn't need to do extra emulation; you can map devices directly using the --device flag to bind the host’s /dev/bus/usb node into the container.
On macOS and Windows: 
Native Docker doesn't exist. Containers run inside a hidden Linux VM spun up by a hypervisor, so direct USB mapping fails unless the underlying VM or hypervisor supports it.

Workarounds
When native OS or hypervisor support isn't available, the industry standard relies on USB/IP (USB over IP). This forwards USB data as network packets, allowing any container or VM connected to the network to use the hardware.

For Docker Desktop, users can configure this through the Docker Docs