What is the vSphere Web Client?

• This is a funky new feature in vSphere 5
• An alternative to using the vSphere Client and a web-based interface to vCenter or a VMware ESXi host
• Supports Firefox and IE Browsers on multiple O/S platforms (Windows and Linux)
• Customisable Interface
• Advanced Search Functionality
• Partners and Users can add features and capabilities
• Requires Adobe Flash Player

What can it be used for?

•  Managing VMs
• Creating VMs
• Performing VM operations
• Configuring VM Resources
• Viewing all vSphere objects
• Performing basic health monitoring
• Supplying a remote console
• Managing vSphere apps through the web

Where do you install it from?

The only difference between installing this to the vSphere Client is selecting an HTTP and a HTTPS Port. By default the HTTP and HTTPS ports are 9090 and 9443 although be careful using 9443 as this is used as a storage I/O Port by VMware. Possible conflict

Installation

• Before you can connect to a vCenter Server Instance, you must register the vCenter Server Instance.
• Select Start > Programs > VMware > VMware vSphere Web Client > vSphere Administration Application and click Register vCenter Server

•  Use this tool to register one or more vCenter Instances. This tool cannot be run remotely. The User must have Admin rights to the vCenter Server Instance

• Ignore the Client Certificate warning
• The next screen is the final screen showing you are configured.

• Open a Web Browser window and type in the URL HTTP:vCenterSever:9443/vSphere-client
• Put in Server, Username and Password

This Service runs under a service called vCenter Inventory Service – Always make sure this is running or you may get an error when you connect.