Sorry to reply back in the thread a bit. I did want to point out though that ESXi supports connecting to consoles via VNC as opposed to having to use vSphere. It's actually been there from the days when it was called GSX server. Anyway, you need to setup a config per VM and then also open up the firewall for it, but not too hard. Here's a semi-recent write up on it:I did like libvirtd with KVM, and virt-manager was nice. plus the ability to set the console for a VM to a random port you can connect to via VNC from any host is very, very nice. @OP I also have a macbook, and find it annoying to boot parallels just to launch vsphere when I want a console.
You don't need Windows anymore. VMware has the SUSE-based vCenter Server Appliance. It's extremely easy to deploy vs. a Windows install of vCenter, and the overhead is (naturally) reduced vs Windows running vCenter. The only difference that comes to mind is that you cannot run vCenter in Linked-mode on the appliance (there may be others).I would run ESXi but hate that I need a windows install somewhere to run vsphere.
So I decided to give the embedded host client a try. Install is super simple, just installing a single vib. After that you can login to the web interface directly on the ESXi box. From there it is just HTML and JavaScript, no plugins at all. You get all the basic management stuff plus console access (which is great without a plugin). There were a few rough edges in the interface but overall very usable.There is now an option that doesn't even involve running vCenter. There is a VMWare labs Flings project here that lets you drop a web interface right on the esxi box:
ESXi Embedded Host Client – VMware Labs
I haven't had time to try it out yet but looks like it may be a nice fit for small one or two ESXi labs.
Unfortunatelly, it does not work with free ESXi. Better said, it runs in read-only mode. Any changes you make are silently ignored. This might change in the future...There is now an option that doesn't even involve running vCenter. There is a VMWare labs Flings project here that lets you drop a web interface right on the esxi box:
ESXi Embedded Host Client – VMware Labs
I haven't had time to try it out yet but looks like it may be a nice fit for small one or two ESXi labs.
VMware has addressed this with the VMware web client - all of the *native functionality included in the C# Windows-based client is available in the VMware web client. It runs as a component of vCenter (SUSE-based virtual appliance or Windows install), so you'll have to pony up for a paid license. At $200 annually the VMUG Eval Experience is a really good value for a lab/home scenario where you want to kick the tires on all of the VMware features. There is also the VMware Essentials version of vCenter which is $599 for a perpetual license of a pared-down version of vCenter which can manage three ESXi hosts. Or if you're a really cheap bastard you can just use a demo license and re-install everything every 60 days.yeah that's a deal breaker for me. I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO RUN A WINDOWS CLIENT/VM JUST TO MANAGE MY VM's [all caps in case VMWare sees it].
Learn the CLI You can do just about everything command line for free.If you just want to have your cake and eat it too, well, I don't think VMware has a solution for that.
yeah a license is probably where i'll need to goVMware has addressed this with the VMware web client - all of the *native functionality included in the C# Windows-based client is available in the VMware web client. It runs as a component of vCenter (SUSE-based virtual appliance or Windows install), so you'll have to pony up for a paid license. At $200 annually the VMUG Eval Experience is a really good value for a lab/home scenario where you want to kick the tires on all of the VMware features. There is also the VMware Essentials version of vCenter which is $599 for a perpetual license of a pared-down version of vCenter which can manage three ESXi hosts. Or if you're a really cheap bastard you can just use a demo license and re-install everything every 60 days.
If you just want to have your cake and eat it too, well, I don't think VMware has a solution for that.
Did VMware also addressed those zillions of problems user have with their web-client? I doubt. I can't believe someone is advocating VMware web-client. I worked with it (and unfortunatelly, sometimes still have to), and for me it is by far the worst management software I have ever have to deal with. It is a true synonym for software-hell! Just check single forum-thread what hundreds of VMware-users think about that flash-based piece of crap:VMware has addressed this with the VMware web client...
I wouldn't say I am advocating it, merely pointing out that it exists for those who are adamantly opposed to running vcenter on Windows.Did VMware also addressed those zillions of problems user have with their web-client? I doubt. I can't believe someone is advocating VMware web-client. I worked with it (and unfortunatelly, sometimes still have to), and for me it is by far the worst management software I have ever have to deal with. It is a true synonym for software-hell! Just check single forum-thread what hundreds of VMware-users think about that flash-based piece of crap:
vSphere Web Client SUCKs so bad that my experie... | VMware Communities
OK I can't bite my tongue anymore, you absolutely CAN manage a vSphere infra (both ESXi hypervisor and MANY other Software Defined Data Center products of theirs) with cli/API's/web browsers minus a vSphere C# client.You don't need Windows anymore. VMware has the SUSE-based vCenter Server Appliance. It's extremely easy to deploy vs. a Windows install of vCenter, and the overhead is (naturally) reduced vs Windows running vCenter. The only difference that comes to mind is that you cannot run vCenter in Linked-mode on the appliance (there may be others).
And YES this has been addressed although it is still flash based (BOO, I KNOW), they are working towards full html5 port but the current vSphere Web Client is 7-10x's faster/snappier than the 5.1/5.5 releases of that POS. Trust me, I was in your boat and beating them up FOREVER, this vSphere 6.x Web Client is the first 'usable/solid' release and it is only gonna get better when the html5 version lands.Did VMware also addressed those zillions of problems user have with their web-client? I doubt. I can't believe someone is advocating VMware web-client. I worked with it (and unfortunatelly, sometimes still have to), and for me it is by far the worst management software I have ever have to deal with. It is a true synonym for software-hell! Just check single forum-thread what hundreds of VMware-users think about that flash-based piece of crap:
vSphere Web Client SUCKs so bad that my experie... | VMware Communities