vSphere Client versus vSphere Web Client

There are now two possible graphical user interface client choices for managing your vCenter Server inventory. But you may not know which client should be utilized for daily use. Upon release of the full-featured vSphere Web Client in vSphere 5.1, VMware made it known that no new features would be added to vSphere Client. Since vSphere Web Client provides the new features of vSphere 5.1 and vSphere 5.5, it is the one that you want to use. Not only that, but vSphere Client can only be installed on a Windows operating system, whereas vSphere Web Client is a platform independent browser-based implementation. As of vSphere 5.5, Microsoft Internet Explorer 8, 9 (64-bit), and 10, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome are supported on Windows operating systems. Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome are also supported on Mac OS X.

There are cases where you may be attempting to use a plugin that has not yet been updated to work with vSphere Web Client. You may not have a choice but to use vSphere Client for plugin access. However, keep in mind that this transition period where both clients are used will eventually end and vSphere Web Client will be the only option available. Vendors are working to update all plugins and features to work with vSphere Web Client, so it's best to begin the adjustment now.

In Chapter 1, Virtual Machine Concepts, as well as the current chapter, instructions are given for both vSphere Web Client and vSphere Client. For all future chapters, only vSphere Web Client will be discussed.