Summary
Update - vSphere Client 5.0 update is now available!
Update - vSphere Client 4.1 Update 1 is now released.
Run vSphere client 4.1 in a snap. No install, just download the EXE and double-click. Place the ThinApped vSphere client on any network share and it will automatically stream to any Windows PC with no installation, agents, drivers, or specialized servers required. Carry ThinApped vSphere client and your customization on USB stick and now your vSphere client is available on the GO!
This fling uses VMware ThinApp to package vSphere Client into a single portable EXE giving you instant access to your virtual infrastructure from any computer. ThinApp has been used by corporate administrators to deploy thousands of applications to millions of desktops. Use VMware ThinApp to create your own virtualized applications, for more information visit the VMware ThinApp page and watch the ThinApp Blog.
System Requirements
With VMware ThinApp, applications are packaged into single executables that run completely isolated from each other and the operating system for conflict-free execution on end-point devices.
Thinapp vSphere Client requires .NET framework 2 or 3. If you are running Windows XP or Windows 2003, you will need .NET Framework 2.0 or .NET Framework 3.0.
Thinapp is compatible with Windows (32/64 bit) and support the following versions :
- Windows XP
- Windows 2000
- Windows 2003
- Windows Vista
- Windows 7
- Windows 2008
- Windows 2008 R2
System requirements for ThinApped vSphere Client are the same as for native vSphere Client.
Instructions
This fling is available for download in two different flavors:
QA Stats Enabled
This package collects and sends anonymous QA reports to VMware. Information collected is explained in the image below:
QA Stats Disabled
You can download this package which does no reporting.
Run vSphere client in a snap. No install, just download the EXE and doubleclick. Carry ThinApped vSphere client and your customization on USB stick and now your vSphere client is available on the GO!
Do give us your feedback which helps in enhancing this fling.
Video
Change Log
Release Date 05/03/2012 - vSphere Client 5.0 Update is now available.
Release Date 10/17/2011 - vSphere Client 4.1 Update 1 is now available.
Engineers
 | Nathan PrziborowskiWorks in the Management Platform group. | |
 | Kailash GajaraWorks in the Desktop QE group. | |
 | Guruprasad Koladevi Mohan RaoWorks in the Desktop QE group. | |
 | Greg GeldorpWorks in the Enterprise Desktop group. | |
 | Jonathan ClarkWorks in the Enterprise Desktop group. | |
 | Kaushal DalalWorks in the Enterprise Desktop group. | |
 | Mitesh PancholyWorks in the Desktop QE group. |
Hi Guys, on question to QA Stats Enabled / Disabled.
I only find one download package for every version. Have I now a package with QA Stats Enabled or Disabled,
But from the description is sounds like there is nor option to switch it on or of.
Thx for the help
Peter
When will there be a 5.1-version available? Thank you very much for feedback …
here you can get vSphere 5.1 http://vmwaremine.com/2012/10/26/thinapp-vsphere-5-1-client/
It does not work on Vista. It cannot view the vmserver console.
Same here. An official update will be great :)
This is great but A MAC VERSION IS NEEDED for those of us who like working with a reliable system and do more that system/IT mamangement.
How about some reliable English.
data recovery plugin + vSphere Client 4.1
VMware needs to get on the ball…. Once Windows 8 hits main stream there will be a greater demand for a Mac / Linux client. No time better than the present!!!!
I just purchased a nice used server off of ebay for a home lab, download and installed ESXi, but I’m pretty much stuck at the management screen. I can configure the network settings, but that’s about it.
If someone has a solution for managing ESXi from Linux, please let me know. I’m going to have to use another virtualization technology for now, and come back to VMWare in a couple of years for another evaluation.
I find it interesting that when I first used VMWare, some 10 years ago or so, VMWare had excellent Linux support. I moved on to a new job that didn’t use it. Now that I’ve found the opportunity to come back to it, I’m honestly surprised to find no management support.
Did you try the ESXi web-console? http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1006095
Very useful in case of emergency!
Good work!
Could you please retain the download links for BOTH the v4 and v5 thinapped versions of the vSphere client, some of us need to administrate both 4.1 and 5.0 ESXi servers and having thinapped versions of both clients would be a real plus.
Agreed, either make both versions available because the thinapped 5.0 client won’t allow me to connect to 4.1 ESX or build it in such a way that we only need to use one version of Thinapped Vsphere that connects to different versions of vCenter Server.
Yes, please provide 4.1 as thinapped version!
Does someone got it and may upload it?
thanks for the sugg – we have now enabled download of both versions and will add some more in the future – click the box above ‘download’ to set the version you want and then click download
For a sake. We need damn Linux client (java/web based – whatever). It’s really stupid run crappy Windows in VirtualBox to administer ESXi.
Hi everyone especially the Vmware DEVs …
WE NEED A LINUX CLIENT for managing esx…
I’m using a Windows XP-vm ONLY to install vsphere client and that really sucks…
Or rewrite the code so that we can at least use in under Wine… or a Java browser… or whatever…
exe works well but how can we publish this to View clients?
I guess I have to thinapp it myself :(
We chose to distribute EXE because likely to be used by Admins who just want to run and not install. For distributing to View Desktops you could just stream into desktops with shortcut created by group policy or script to thinreg
Really, thinapp or not, we need a Linux solution for managing vsphere systems. At this stage there is no excuse for not having a management client that runs under Linux
Are there any plans for vSphere 5 ThinApp in the near future?
to ThinApp each vCenter vSphere Client??
VMware, *you* invented ThinApp, please *use* it as people have requested.
There’s really no excuse for you not distributing ThinApped vSphere clients as the STANDARD distro rather than the clumsy bulky installer.
Please just do it — one ThinApped client for each 4.x U# edition and one ThinApped client for each 5.x U# edition.
Thank you, Tom
Any plans for vSphere Thinapped client for vSphere 5.0?
Keen to see this happen, no more installation worries.
Another vote for a Linux and/or Mac OS X vSphere client.
I’m currently running it in a VirtualBox VM on my laptop, to access my organization’s vSphere infrastructure. I tried running the vSphere Client under Crossover Office, but no luck. It’s clunky, and I’m using your competitor’s product to make it work. Please release a vSphere client that matches the OS-choices commonly made by systems administrators who actually have their hands on VMWare.
YES! This is un-freaking-believable that no Linux or Mac client exists! It’s INSANE that I have to maintain a Windows PC just to be able to administer my virtualized Linux server farm.
We REALLY NEED thinappped vSphere client 4.1 U2!
*bump* for 4.1 Update 2 PLEASE !!!
4.1 U2 thinapp PLEASE!!!!!!!
What about including the Update Manager plug-in with the ThinApped vSphere 4.1 U1 Client?
Not every time IE and Firefox are an option, because the ie is selfcustomized and very restricted by the custommer.
Although Adobe Flash is not allowed. A thininstalled virtual center client 5.0 + plugins makes sense.
It could be copied in a folder in the virtual center and add a hyperlink on the virtual center home page, so the resticted customer users (not admins on windows)
can download the thininstalled vc client inside the company, as the admins could today with the virtual center client.
This reduce packing and rollout of vc client.
Any news on a vSphere client v5.0? It has been awhile now and would really like to have this.
And while you guys are at IT … can you please make sure that it’s WINE compatible ???
I have a dream: ThinApped vSpere Client 5.0 running under WinOnX !?!
That would please a whole lot of Mac users !
Hey – this is great! Thanks!
Got me back into ESXi hosts from Windows 8 Developer Preview (standard 4.1 client wouldn’t install).
Spoke too soon – quit working after a reboot? Very odd… so close.
…a whole 10 days before it’s useless again! GREAT!!!!
In all seriousness, why can’t they release this along with the new versions/update? I have a vender that cannot get their act together and move they’re software to services, so the users are required to log in with the console. This would help greatly when updates come out.
…. and they are USERS, they can’t use a browser….
Could we please get 4.1 Update 2 version of the vSphere Client ?
Any plan for a 4.1 U2 release? My customer’s slooowwww vsphere client deployment cycle is preventing us from upgrading to 4.1 U2 on vCenter and hosts…
Doesn’t seem to work on Windows 7 x64?
Faulting application name: VMware vSphere Client.exe, version: 4.1.0.14766, time stamp: 0x4d23dbd5
Faulting module name: msvcrt.dll, version: 7.0.7600.16385, time stamp: 0x4a5bda6f
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x0000ba16
Faulting process id: 0x204c
Faulting application start time: 0x01cc9416a411b448
Faulting application path: D:\VMs\VMware_vSphere_Client_4_1_update_1_without_QR\VMware vSphere Client.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\syswow64\msvcrt.dll
Report Id: fef87478-0009-11e1-a30a-005056c00008
This is very strange, specially when you look at vmware’s past. But its all about $$$ I guess. I’m really disappointed!!!
Hi KM Khan,
VMware have released the vSphere web client with vSphere 5.0 which allows vSphere to be managed from IE and Firefox supported browsers – opening up management from Linux.
Essentially this is an initial release and is a superset of the funcationality of the C# client but also contains new functionality.
In the next few releases essentialy management will move to the vSphere web client which is based on the same framework as View and vCloud (Adobe Flex) and be a single web based console.
Support for Opera and Chrome will also be added – very cool eh?
Andy Barnes
VMadmin.co.uk
Now that i’m all gun-ho for 5 after VMworld….. Any idea on a update for this for ESXi/vSphere 5?
It’d be pretty sweet to use this with our new installation of the ESXi 5 environment.
Heck, I guess I could thinapp it myself but I’ve honestly been too lazy.
Dear Developers, we’re all looking forward for Linux version of vSphere Client… It so awful that we need to look for a windows machine to make some management tasks.. Among system administrators non-Windows OSes are more popular and obviously we need this software for all major platforms incl Mac and Linux.
I agree…this is the ONLY piece of software that requires me to still have a Windows host. I work in development and I can do everything else except administer my VMs with Linux.
If asked to guess, I would say that preparations for VMWorld have placed any update for this fling on the back burner. I created a package of this application on my own using ThinApp and found it be fairly easy. I didn’t need any of the non-English files and managed to get the MSI file down to 38MB. My version is 4.1.0 Build 345043.
The basic process to capture and build this application is not too involved and can be done in an afternoon. I can’t say whether the refinement of the package will take long, as I did not have time for that type of thing. I’m not using the client regularly, I just did this for fun. Your situation may require the use of every feature of the application and many plug-ins. I challenge those of you with a free afternoon and a ThinApp license to package this application.
Any chance of getting the new build… seems like the idea kind of died.
Where til find thinapp for 4.1U1 ? :(
Is there any update to Thinapped vSphere Client 4.1 U1? I didn’t realize this wasn’t the latest build and have now upgraded my hosts and vcenter server. Much appreciated. Thanks
I would really appreciate all vSphere clients thinapped as one single app – we have different customers with different level of upgrade, so I almost daily need vSphere 4.1 u1, 4.1, 4.0, etc..
Is it possible to get the “recipe” for this ‘package?
How did you get to 89 mb and how did you disabled SxS?
Me likez it.. Yes please 4.1U1 for “take out”.
Yes, PLEEEEASE, a Thinapp’d 4.1u1 would be the cat’s meow…
Still no 4.1 U1 version available???
Please please please…release new updated version!!!
Nooooo! So close. We up’d to ESX 4.1i before discovering this gem. Life in a dynamic Virtual Desktop still remains vSphereless..
Thinapped Vsphere client works when using it to remote into an ESX 4.1.0 (Build 260247) – Guest Hypervisor , but not on the ESX 4.1 Host (build 348481 – 02/10/11 | 4.1 Update 1 )
Message appears when connecting to ESX 4.1 Host(build 348481) “Updating…. The required client support files need to be retrieved from the server “vsphereclient.vmware.com” and installed. Click Run the installer or Save the installer ” in which i choose to RUN the installer. Continuously get this message even after. So I am using The standard VIC client and Thinapped Client in the interim. Please let me know if there is a work around.
I’d use it if only it was backward-compatible with other ESX/ESXi builds. I have 3.5, 4.0, 4.1 with various U’s.
How do you check if .net 2.0 or 3.0 is available or not? I would like to implement this check for our own thinapp-ed applications in this way you use. Can you tell me the trick?
The only problem is that if you need to administer a infrastructure on 4.0, 4.0u1,u2 or 4.1u1 it will ask you to install the appropriate client.
So this is in no way a universal package to administer all editions.
Andrei is dead right. This Thin App package is useless as long as it does not supports several different vSphere versions.
Correct…
Very cool idea! After using this I started thinking … If I could have the vMA on a thumb drive this would complete my entire portable tool set leveraging the tools i prefer to use, GUI (vSphere Client), CLI (vMA) and Web (Portable Firefox). Do you think you guys can work on getting the vMA on a thumb drive? This will also make it so I don’t have to use space on my ESX clusters or install Workstation on my corporate laptop to leverage the vMA management tool. The more I use the vMA the more I like it, it’s definitely better than the vSphere CLI. Since we’ll all have to become familiar with it after the next major release of ESX I think this would be extremely beneficial to use lonely admins :)
It’s really sad that Linux and Mac aren’t supported on VI client, when a lot of administrators use this platforms for every day use…
Unfortunately I have .Net 4 installed on Win7 x64 …
VMware vSphere Client.exe has stopped working.
Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: VMware vSphere Client.exe
Application Version: 0.0.0.0
Application Timestamp: 4d7ebbdb
Fault Module Name: StackHash_76a1
Fault Module Version: 0.0.0.0
Fault Module Timestamp: 00000000
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 78c21005
OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 76a1
Additional Information 2: 76a173c26a6dc2e3cd83ac8fd9f8bdb9
Additional Information 3: 7b3f
Additional Information 4: 7b3f634c955ac91fe3f1e745337a968a
Hopefully this issue will be resolved in later versions.
Any news on Thinapped apps working in WINE, or a vSphere client for Linux?
Great idea…but, as John C says, please re-package with the backward-compatible client version!!!
In any case…thanks a lot!!!
Ciao.
Is there any plans about 4.0 client?
I take it I don’t have to own Thinapp licenses to Legally use and not have to pay VMware for using it this correct?
Thanks
-Rich
As long you accept the EULA
Awesome idea! Glad to see this, but need current version please! Please also see if there are any more vmware applications you can do this with! Also, put the build number somewhere in teh zip file or zip file name so we know what the build number is for the vpshere client.
Thanks for the feedback. A new release with vSphere Client U 1 coming soon and should have the vSphere Client Build #
Now at 5.0 on the vsphere vi client. Any chance of a thin app for that. Especially since (speaking of thinness) I can’t get the 5.0 client to install on the windows 7 “thinpc” (which has happily been running the 4.1 client)
4.1 Update 1 please!!!!
Also on 4.1U1 here, please update this.
Also on Update 1 build here, please update this :)
This would be perfect on Citrix !
This is a really great idea. What would be even better would be a) if you could provide a Thinapped version with every vCenter release and b) if you could Thinapp all the VI Client/vSphere Client versions from 2.5 upwards – I’m sure I’m not alone in that I have a number of legacy environments I need to manage and could do without having to install multiple versions on my machine.
Could it be possible to get an msi file with streaming turned on. To use with VMware View?
Claes
So…this won’t work against ESX 4.0 U2?
Thanks for the release.
It would be nice to see the other plug-ins available as linked ThinApps as well. This would include the already mentioned Converter and Update Manager, but also SRM, Appspeed, CapIQ and anything else from the VMware vSphere family.
Thanks again.
Virgil
Brisbane VMUG
Are the plugins for Update Manager and Converter pre-installed in the package as well? I too would like to see a U1 version as my lab is currently running U1.
Yay. Let’s get a PowerCLI one too.
Maybe we can even get this in the build system and release a new one with every update? Crazy I know, but…
The client’s not launching, and not giving any error messages. Running Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit. .Net is installed
Event viewer had an error –
-
-
1000
2
100
0×80000000000000
3486
Application
laptop
-
VMware vSphere Client.exe
0.0.0.0
4d7ebbdb
unknown
0.0.0.0
00000000
c0000005
792b1005
111c
01cbe4c21a750fd7
C:\Users\kcohen\Documents\vSphere\VMware vSphere Client.exe
unknown
59264cf1-50b5-11e0-b937-e02a82c7ede9
Same problem also for me: client not launching and not giving any error message.
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit
Error in event viewer:
VMware vSphere Client.exe
0.0.0.0
4d7ebbdb
unknown
0.0.0.0
00000000
c0000005
79a41005
3658
01cbe4dc39a58fe5
D:\ThinApped_Vmware_vSphere_Client_4.1_stats_enabled\VMware vSphere Client.exe
unknown
7753b114-50cf-11e0-81c8-005056c00008
I can give you the appcrash on request.
What about MAC OS, in second thought ThinApp doesn’t support MAC OS.. right??
You can always use Fusion->Windows and run vSphere Client on top of that.
But just a Thinapp for MacOS would be so cool !
Sorry about that guys – we’ll get out the 4.1 Update 1 version very soon.
Jonathan @ vmware
Please put this update plan into the main content. Thank you, Tom
A Thinapp package with the current Version would be really nice to have.
Please make this a STANDARD vCenter client application offering going forward.
Maintain it just like the regular vCenter client.
Offer it with the limitations of not using it for VUM and plugins.
Just a really easy way for administering vCenter etc. that can be used by people who don’t use vCenter daily (e.g. people who do infrequent or limited administration etc.).
AND please update/maintain it.
Thank you, Tom
Will also be great to include vmware basic plugins : Update manager & converter. (Ideally Data recovery)
Great idea, please re-package with the latest 4.1 Update 1.
Why only vSphere Client 4.1 Build 260247? So I can’t use it, because I’ve already 4.1U1 :-)
Why only vSphere Client 4.1U1 Build 260247? :-)
Great idea, but one minor nitpick – this is the 4.1 client. It won’t work with hosts running 4.1 Update 1. Can you re-package with the latest bits (since the update 1 client is backward compatible)?
Now only missing a .dmg version for the Mac :-)