edit VM using vSphere Client version 10 or higher

This is correct, you have stumbled into an area, which is causing VMware Admins issues.

Virtual Machine version 10 virtual machines CAN ONLY bed edited and modified with the vSphere Web Client.

and the  vSphere Web Client is not available in the Standalone version, it's only available through VMware vSphere vCenter Server.

see my EE Article

HOW TO: What's New in VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.5 (ESXi 5.5)

Options available to you now...

1. Edit manually using the console or remotely via SSH (and use VI)

2. Convert back to a virtual machine 8 or 9 using "Converter".

3. You can use VMware Workstation 10 to manage and edit some properties of virtual machine version 10.

4. Purchase a vSphere Essentials license at approx $600, for 3 x 2 CPU Host Licenses and vCenter Server

that's approx $150 each server!

To be honest with you, at present we keep most VMs at version 8.0, UNLESS we need to use the features of 9 or 10.

HOW TO: FAQ VMware P2V Troubleshooting

HOW TO:  P2V, V2V for FREE - VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 5.5

VMware have not said, what it's going to do with the vSphere Client (C#) because no more new features are being implemented into it.

Ok, so im going to use an SSH client to edit the .vmx file and change the version from 10 to 9. Other than Putty what is the other SH client that has more options than Putty, it lets you navigate teh ESXi directory and download files and upload files but i can't remember the SSh client name?

I found it, WinSCP

I'll get back to you. I guess I could V2V it again and choose version 9?

Be careful here, just changing the version number by editing is not recommended....

and you may end up with a duff VMX file.

V2V and change it to 8.

Unless you need the features of 9 or 10!

What features do you require in 10.....

because you cannot create a 9/10 only upgrade to it...

Hi, I edited the file to version 9 on both systems and now I'm able to edit the hardware settings and the systems boot-up without error - safe to assume all is good?

I don't need any features from V10 I just accepted the defaults without realising it would cause an issue with the ESXi stand alone. Can I ask, where do I get the web client from? I can't see it on the list when I navigate via the browser to the ESXi host IP address?

I would *NEVER* recommend just editing the VMX file, and changing from 10 to 9!

and if you do not need the features, leave at version 8, and do not be tempted by *most* to select Upgrade Virtual Machine Hardware, which seems like a "red rag to a bull" for most VMware Admins, that must be cousins of the "firmware upgrade movement, when a new firmware is released!"

Can I ask, where do I get the web client from? I can't see it on the list when I navigate via the browser to the ESXi host IP address?

You can.....
 
as per my first post....

"and the  vSphere Web Client is not available in the Standalone version, it's only available through VMware vSphere vCenter Server." - which you need a license for!

hI, Yep I realise it isn't available for the stand alone but was wanting to know for the other vSphere cluster that we have?

It's part of vCenter Server 5.x.

You need to shut down VM before editing VMX file (and have real bakup copy)
It is worth trying, but most likely vmx-10 features will be a showstopper (3D graphics and SATA to name few)

Hi, I have launched IE and gone to the ESXi 5.5 IP address and can see the Welcome screen but I can't see anything that says "web browser"?

Jason

I believe the original question has been answered, if my answer has been helpful please award points.

This question has now started to go off topic.

If you would like to submit a new question myself or other Experts will be glad to assist.

Not really Andrew. I appreciate all of your help but my last comment in the original question was asking for the where abouts to the web client and I still don't know how to access it?

Many thanks, that default works.