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Connecting VMware vSphere Client to Multiple Hosts

I am a software consultant and have multiple clients using VMware. I need to connect to the server to work on our application (RDP is not always turned on). Most of my customers want me to connect using the Vsphere client. However, most customers are using different versions of ESX which requires me to connect to their server and download their version of Vsphere. This takes a great deal of time in some cases. Is there a better way to do this or am I doing something wrong with Vsphere. I do use VMware and vSphere internally and have a licensed copy, but I am no expert. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

I guess the ultimate question is how do you consultants that support VMware connect to your clients?

Thanks in advance

fluk3d

How about using the webclient as suppose to downloading the client?

fluk3d

https://<VCENTER-SERVER-HOST/IP>/ui/#

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bgoering

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Paul Solovyovsky

I have vmware workstation installed and have very small Windows XP VMs, each has a different version of VI Client, software, etc.. for each build for ESX..3, 3.5, 4.0/4.1 Boot up the VM for a particular client and allows me to use my system for everything else and the VM connects to the network.

Another option is to do a Thinapp.

Brian32003

ASKER

fluk3d: - Are there any limitations to using the web client?

Brian32003

ASKER

bgoering: - I am currently using this solution, but I am having issues with 4.0 and 4.1. When I install and use the 4.1 client and try to connect to a 4.0 I am prompted to download and install new code. Then when I connect to a 4.1 client and I am prompted again to install new code. I currently have multiple Windows Virtual PC boxes, but it is getting very difficult to manage. This gets complicated due to each client also having their own VPN software etc... I was hoping to have 1 box to connect to all vSphere clients and then I can install the VPN software for each client as needed.

Thanks

fluk3d

Have a quick read through the administrator's guide it should cover what it can do. I do recall it has some limitations

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_web_access.pdf

Paul Solovyovsky

If you have access to Thinapp may be worth a try. Just have each executable on usb flash drive and you're set.

http://blogs.vmware.com/thinapp/2008/11/step-by-step-on.html

Brian32003

ASKER

I have tried using the webclient, but I seem to have the same problem of needing to install a new client each time I connect based on the version of VMware the client is using.

Paul Solovyovsky

VMWare Workstation 7 now includes Thinapp (just got email yesterday). With this you can create different versions of VI Client and run at will

http://blogs.vmware.com/workstation/2010/11/buy-vmware-workstation-7-get-vmware-thinapp-starter-edition-for-free.html

Brian32003

ASKER

bgoering: I am not sure what was going on with my machine, but this seems to be working now. I guess it needed to reboot