VMware Communities: Message List - VI3: Linux Client, Please

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

esiebert7625 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:19:13 GMT

Here you go:

Private vExpert meeting with Stephen Herrod: vCenter 4.0 for Linux is coming
At
5:30 p.m., it was off to our private vExpert meet-up hosted by Troyer,
which included a Q&A with Stephen Herrod and presentations by Jason
Boche and Steve Kaplan. I recorded part of this, which you can view here. A couple of interesting things came out of it.

VMware hasn't forgotten about a vCenter Server 4.0 Linux-based
appliance. Developers are actively working on it, and although VMware
wanted to mention something at the keynote about it, the company chose
not to. On the client front, VMware is rearchitecting it and rewriting
it in Adobe Flex (Web-based) and intends to have it available in the
next major release, which means we are unlikely to see a specific Linux
client because a universal Web-based client will be used instead.
Finally, the ESX Service Console is going away for good, and ESX and
ESXi are being united. VMware is working on these things, which may or
may not make the next major release. Apparently, getting the
third-party vendors to adapt is the biggest hurdle.

Eric Siebert
VMware Communities User Moderator
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Author of the upcoming book "VMware VI3 Implementation and Administration" now available on Rough Cuts
Check out my website: VMware-land
Read my virtualization blog: SSV Blog
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

brunson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:16:19 GMT

Your blog site requres registration to read the article. Can you summarize the repsonse?

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

esiebert7625 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:58:26 GMT

The question of a linux client came up in a vExpert meeting we had with Stephen Herrod at VMworld, I wrote about his response here:

http://searchvmware.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid179_gci1367774_mem1,00.html

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

simoncpu — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:39:28 GMT

Probably, but we need console access too. VMWare's browser plugins don't work across all OS.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

abradshaw — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:28:39 GMT

I cant help but think that this would all be solved by providing a web client (ala VMware Server 2.0). Although it uses more resources on the host I guess but hey!

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

zevenzin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:44:58 GMT

how about a OS X client???

not even a dream.... right?

worst part of it all:

WASTING HOST RESOURCES to RDP into XP just for the beeping client.

i dream at least of a LINUX client

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

abradshaw — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:39:46 GMT

kqemu eh, nice. Have you seen OpenQRM - it is really an amazing piece of open source software. Ive been playing with it for a few days and I think its going to be a major part of my new deployment.

http://www.openqrm.com/

It separates your images from your hyper-visor choice and have plugins for all the main hyper-visors. You can seamlessly move an image from one technology to another (although I havent got that far yet)

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

brunson — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:22:01 GMT

We've already started the migration. I've been running kqemu virtual machines under the beta release of Fedora 12 and I must say I extremely impressed, both with performance and the management GUI. You should defininitely check it out. We've moved our development off of ESXi and we're currently qualifying our server images under kqemu in order to move them over, too.

Of course, lack of linux VI client wasn't the only reason for this move. Frankly, the more I worked with ESX, the more I was annoyed with not having a real OS I could use at the hypervisor layer to manage my VMs. But lack of VI was the kick in the pants to really start the migration.

Good job, VMWare, way to run off your customers. But, I'm sure the $30K/yr we've been paying for licenses isn't that important to you.

I like the new logo, though.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

abradshaw — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:07:18 GMT

I know Im so disappointed that there isnt a Linux client any more, Im thinking of moving to Xen or KVM. I got quite excited by VMWare Go, as at least I could use a web interface but the web interface only works on a Windows machine - BOOOO

Weird thing is that there is a native Linux VMWare Converted (v4), so they do still develop for Linux (a little)

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

jragle — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:31:05 GMT

RideTheCliche wrote:
All resources dedicated to Linux VI client support were diverted towards other pressing issues, such as creation of a new VMware logo.

The way this company has been behaving over the past year makes me want to weep... When I became a VCP years ago I was their hugest fan.

~RTC

Hah! Nice.

On a serious note, you guys should check out the video presentation from Adam Young and Ben (don't know his last name) at this years VMworld 2009 here: http://www.vmworld.com/docs/DOC-2816/version/2

You will have to create an account to watch it, but they discuss at the end some of their logic of working on the VCenter Server for Linux before they do a client for Linux. It does make a lot of sense. I just hope it really gets some internal support before all the Linux shops bail out. (if VMware is left with only Windows customer base, guess who they will cater to..)

Anyway, please check out and discuss.

-Jamin Ragle
---
VCP, Linux System Administrator, All around great guy.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

petedr — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:44:03 GMT

this thtead just keeps on going, i was the second post on it 3 years ago

www.phdvirtual.com, makers of esXpress

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

RideTheCliche — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:18:19 GMT

All resources dedicated to Linux VI client support were diverted towards other pressing issues, such as creation of a new VMware logo.

The way this company has been behaving over the past year makes me want to weep... When I became a VCP years ago I was their hugest fan.

~RTC

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

jragle — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:54:02 GMT

Anyone know if we have an official "vSphere 4: Linux Client, Please" thread going yet?

-Jamin Ragle
---
VCP, Linux System Administrator, All around great guy.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

IntergalacticWalrus — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:52:07 GMT

Adding myself to this increasingly ridiculous thread. I work in a primarily Linux-based workplace. New people who ask us how to access our ESXi virtual Linux servers are always confused when we tell them that you need Windows to do so. It just doesn't make sense! So we run VI Client inside a Windows guest on Workstation, which is awkward as hell (speaking of which, why can't we change the mouse focus escape key binding in VI Client??).

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

BeamingFuture — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:23:35 GMT

My company would like to see a VI3 client for Linux. None of us administrators are using Windows anymore. We're using either Linux or Mac OS X. Virtualbox has come to a rescueto be able to run a Windows XP and VI3client, but it is a clumpsy solution.

So VMWare, please put some effort into a VI3 Linux client

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

simoncpu — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:43 GMT

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

ronny.simonsen@nfk.no — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:38:27 GMT

The problem with VMWare is that they in some way has become extremely arrogant. It can rely in some secret Microsoft-agreement, but we never know.

VMWare doesn't have any argument for not making an Linux-version of VC and VC-Client. Almost everything else they produce is made for or based on Linux-technology.

VMWare Server and Workstation have clients for Linux. VMWare ESX are based on Linux-like OS.

Customers that choose to migrate completely to OpenSource is forced to buy MS-licenses for using VMWare ESX with VC. This is a very bad and not understandable policy at VMWare.

VMWare technology did surprised me and i really liked it. We thought VMWare is the solution for us, but if we had to choose now....It would never be VMWare! It is good, but to expensive and to less flexible i choices of OS. Since this threat has been going since 2005 nothing happens at VMWare, it tells me someting about VMWares and their respect for us customers. Shame on you VMWare!

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

jtliii — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:34:32 GMT

Well I can't give up. If we give up then there will never be a Linux VI client for certain.

Please, please, please give us a native Linux VI client.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

booner_tfcu — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:40:09 GMT

(sorry, odd automatic replies...)

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

booner_tfcu — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:40:09 GMT

(sorry, odd automatic replies...)

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

booner_tfcu — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:40:09 GMT

(sorry, odd automatic replies...)

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

booner_tfcu — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:40:08 GMT

(sorry, odd automatic replies...)

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

glim — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:22:41 GMT

Hi DanM,

can you list the DLLs you had to copy?

I know that crtdll.dll is needed, but I don't know the others.

Thanks.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

hhedeshian — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:40:13 GMT

The thing is, it's not about beeing geeky. Sure there are some of us who would like it because it's cool. But lets take a look at it from this perspective:

Our company has 2 sysadmins. Both running linux. We have a total of 5 developers that need access to a vmware console. All 5 are running Linux. The CTO has a Mac. If we were to license 8 windows virtual machines, thats 8x$300 of Windows Vista Business (because we don't have enough windows need to qualify for a license program; cant get XP; etc) + $500 av licenses +8 x $200 vmware workstation + the time and effort to support these systems....

"suck it up and by windows" works if you have 1 or 2 sysadmins. Telling our devs to run a windows vm would cause more of an uproar than yelling "bomb" at an airport

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

Dopehead — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:18:43 GMT

I am not in the office until the 31st August 2009, sorry.
Kind regards, Harald van Buel.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

ronnieredd — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:10:22 GMT

I don't see how this is without windows. I do appreciate the workaround effort though. I'll be removing myself from the list shortly. I've given up waiting. VMware lost out on $60,000.00 revenue coming from us by not supporting Linux and requiring windows.

Too bad for them - I used to like VMware.

We are converting our machines to openfiler/iscsi raid10 and KVM on Ubuntu and RHEL right now.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

DanM — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 01:27:41 GMT

I was evaluating Hyper-V Server R2 and got bored one day, so I P2V'd the box into an ESX 3.5 VM. Then I removed the Hyper-V role using ocsetup.exe, essentially transforming it into a Windows Core 2008 R2 virtual machine. I enabled all the .NET roles and successfully installed/ran the VI Client. In order to get the remote console working I had to yank 4 DLLs from my Vista VM.

Hyper-V Server (and R2 soon) is a free download at microsoft.com, if you want to run the VI Client without "Windows" then Microsoft's lean-mean hypervisor (haha) should suit you just fine. <cough>

D.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

Dopehead — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 01:48:39 GMT

I am not in the office until the 31st August 2009, sorry.
Kind regards, Harald van Buel.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

Vinas — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:10:10 GMT

I don't think it matters if you bring it up to your account rep... We've asked a lot.

at some point there was a NDA on this news... they have a client that they haven't released. Who knows why.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

c3po — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:59:29 GMT

Of course it's not about being geeky. If you count only people posting here, each representing a company, there are a bunch of unhappy costumers. I'm dissapointed and I don't quite understand VMware's attitude. Isn't Microsoft their competitor? Anyway, I'm going to stop following the thread, as it seems the good news I was waiting for is not coming. Maybe they will develop a client for Google Chrome OS . See ya guys in another 3 years...

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

ojw_cryptomathic — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:57:27 GMT

I though they had already said it would be done:

http://windowsitpro.com/articles/print.cfm?articleid=100325

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

dthomasdigital — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:34:07 GMT

You might be right but it sure woudl be nice.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

Roanry — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:33:20 GMT

amen..

propeller-heads!? Haven't heard that one for a long time! LOL Well played sir.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

sean.carolan — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:29:33 GMT

Guys, I have been watchign this thread for what, over two years now? I've tried to unsubscribe from it but it keeps coming back like some kind of mutant zombie.

Give it up, VMWare is not going to make a Linux client for a small handful of geeky propeller-heads who don't want to take the trouble to dig up a Windows XP/2003 license. As a Linux sysadmin, don't get me wrong, I say geeky propeller-heads with the utmost affection.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

dthomasdigital — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:27:53 GMT

I'm all for open source.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

dthomasdigital — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:26:41 GMT

Yuck .NET, please stop developing in .NET

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

Roanry — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:26:14 GMT

Well I think I will bring this up with our account team if everyone thinks a contest would be a good idea.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

hhedeshian — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:21:07 GMT

"...would not be that big a deal to develope."

But it would be, since everything is based on .Net. None of that code is portable. Really, vmware is vendor locked.

However, that still is no excuse. They could at least include the proper SSL libs to get the thing to run in winehq AYOR (at your own risk). Or build a version on top of Mono if they don't want to spend $gazillions on a pretty GUI.

.Net is one of the best ways to shoot your self in the foot should you every need to support anything other than Windows (with a genuine advantage).

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

hhedeshian — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:23:45 GMT

Are there specs/APIs release that conform to GPL2? A contest may be a good idea. The prize: a license of vCenter and 4 CPU licenses of vSphere 4 Enterprise Plus.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

Roanry — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:14:00 GMT

Maybe VMware should make this a contest to see who could develop the best open source VI client?

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

dthomasdigital — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:10:26 GMT

And that's a good point VMware is the best at what it does and if I had that much overhead I'd be doing what you're doing. It's just frustrating when you know a Linux client would not be that big a deal to develope.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

Roanry — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:05:35 GMT

Well in your case you might need something else but it all comes down to a cost / benefit analysis. maybe you are better served using KVM? http://www.workswithu.com/2009/04/27/kvm-vs-vmware-a-case-study/ But in my case with over 40,000 servers and a goal to virtualize 70% of that VMware is a no brainer. KVM, Oracle VM, Xensource can't even hold a candle in the wind to how much WE need our solution to do for us. But every case is different and not everyone has 140+ data center's.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

dthomasdigital — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:02:37 GMT

I agree and we have started looking at the alternatives as well. Give me what I want or I move on. We spent a lot of money on this product and I'm not happy.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

Roanry — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:01:11 GMT

Yes in your case that is a problem.. I guess I am just lucky because I have 4 laptops running RHEL, windows, mac and ubuntu. I am just a geek and need more tech!

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

Bret Palsson — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:58:05 GMT

It's probably time to move Citrx XenServer. Seriously, it's a great product. I'd keep using vmware if they would adjust prices and support paravirtualization for RHEL. We just can't get the performance of full virtualization that we can with paravirt. STOP DEVELOPING FOR WINDOWS!

VCP

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

dthomasdigital — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:56:15 GMT

I guess I look at it from the fact that we are a 100% GNU/Linux shop and useing windows has started us down the road of not wanting to use VMware.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

simoncpu — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:53:54 GMT

Yeah, that's true. My MacBook didn't come with Windows pre-installed.

VI3 client for Linux and Mac OS X FTW! w00h00!!!

Your resident troll that genuinely needs a Linux VI3 client,

simoncpu

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

Roanry — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:52:01 GMT

No i agree but until they develop all of their vCloud methodologies (vCenter, Capacity Planner, Converter, etc..) to run on linux we will never get there and then why would it matter then? Think of this as an arranged marriage. Why spend all of our energy on kicking MS out when we can focus on the core technologies and strategy of virtualization? Would you rather spend your time stopping Hyper-V or kicking VMware's @$$ on a little client?

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

dthomasdigital — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:45:24 GMT

But who wants to use Windows. I'm sorry but even VMWare is GNU/Linux so why would you want you client to be Windows. The goal is to e Microsoft free.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

Roanry — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:40:04 GMT

Oh please, Windows XP licenses are a dime a dozen now of days and if you don't have at least one XP license laying around that you are not using i would find that hard to believe. I am sure the laptop you purchased didn't come with linux.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

Vinas — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:09:55 GMT

+1 to simon <G>

Windows License = Fail

For a company whos products are competing head to head with Virtual Server and others, you'd think VMware would have solved this issue by now.

I don't even know why I still follow this thread. It's been way too long.

Maybe the folks over at Veeam can help us if we ask nicely?

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

simoncpu — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 03:49:57 GMT

bam, I didn't realize that we need licenses for Windows! lololol

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

Roanry — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:06:59 GMT

You linux geek's! LOL

I am only jealous I didn't come up with that script first!

I am sure that YOU already have VMware workstation on YOUR linux desktop so

why don't YOU just turn on UNITY and then BAM you now have a VI client running on your Linux desktop?

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

ronnieredd — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:01:27 GMT

"rm -rf /opt/vmware/.NET\ Developers
killall -9 VMwareExecs
dd if=/dev/linustorvalds of=/usr/sbin/VMwareExecs count=<number of execs working at vmware>
/usr/sbin/VMwareExecs &
tail -f /var/log/SatisfiedLinuxUsers"

That was just frickin beautiful!

Evaluating KVM right now!

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

hhedeshian — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:52:38 GMT

P.S. Xen is being considered to replace ESX instead of upgrading to vSphere4.

Sorry VMware, you might lose $20K in licensing and support contracts.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

hhedeshian — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:49:39 GMT

+1 to the Linux console. My company has around 10 ESX hosts / we're a Linux shop.

My solution:

rm -rf /opt/vmware/.NET\ Developers
killall -9 VMwareExecs
dd if=/dev/linustorvalds of=/usr/sbin/VMwareExecs count=<number of execs working at vmware>
/usr/sbin/VMwareExecs &
tail -f /var/log/SatisfiedLinuxUsers

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

ronnieredd — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:39:03 GMT

Now that we are on 27 pages - maybe it's time to ask vmware more directly, since they are obviously busy renaming their product lines instead of concentrating on what their customers want.

Click here to ask for a Linux VI

http://www.vmware.com/contact/contactus.html?department=customer_service&label=Customer%20Service&ref=http%3A//www.vmware.com/support/

EDIT:

I just found a place to ask for product line features:

https://www.vmware.com/contact/contactus.html?department=prod_request

Please go there and ask for a VI linux client.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

ctron — Fri, 15 May 2009 06:00:38 GMT

Xen is very close to being a drop in replacement for most VMware ESX implementations administered by Linux experienced administrators but Citrix isn't much more Linux friendly than VMware.

Having to live without a VI3 client on my Linux workstation for so long has gotten me used to running things from the console. This has proved invaluable in evaluating KVM/QEMU in our data center. Red Hat and Canonical have decided to support it as the native Linux virtualization solution and I'm impressed with what I've tested so far. Red Hat's sponsored "virt-manager" shows all the signs of being what VMware has failed to produce for the Linux VI3 community. Don't wait too long to deliver, VMware, or the Open Source Community will just roll our own.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

simoncpu — Fri, 15 May 2009 04:02:02 GMT

Yes, Xen rocks (too bad there's no FreeBSD dom0 yet).... I even got a free t-shirt.

I need a Linux VI3 client though... we're using VMWare in the place where I work.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

Bret Palsson — Fri, 15 May 2009 03:57:59 GMT

Seriously guys, try out citrix xenserver 5.0, it's free and well is a serious contender to vmware. As much as I like vmware, they don't cater to the linux group. I don't think they will either. Obviously someone with big money is keeping the glued to an inferior OS. vmware just needs to be prepared to keep loosing customers.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

simoncpu — Fri, 15 May 2009 03:30:19 GMT

I've sent Santa Claus a toungue-in-cheek wish list for a Linux client. w00h00!!!

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

simoncpu — Thu, 14 May 2009 06:14:01 GMT

+1 for Linux client. Firefox plugin no longer works in Ubuntu 9.04 amd64.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

brunson — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:21:24 GMT

vm_dude123 wrote:
I found an announcement from late last year, but does anyone have a firm release date?

I think as soon as their .Net developers finish writing Duke Nukem Forever.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

jragle — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:12:59 GMT

Anyone know if "vapor ware" is two words or one?

-Jamin Ragle
---
VCP, Linux System Administrator, All around great guy.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

vm_dude123 — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:30:59 GMT

I just downloaded ESXi to try it out and was STUNNED to read in the getting started manual that the VI Client is windows only!!! A quick google then got me to this thread. I found an announcement from late last year, but does anyone have a firm release date?

So I have to keep a windows box lying around just to access this??? No thanks.... Incredible..... Stunned....

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

petedr — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 01:58:08 GMT

good point

www.phdvirtual.com, makers of esXpress

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

Bret Palsson — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:48:01 GMT

What would be cooler is if they had a Linux Client.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

petedr — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 20:39:28 GMT

The post just keeps going on which is cool, I posted originally on it back in July 2006.

www.phdvirtual.com, makers of esXpress

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

Karlheinz_mk — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:39:02 GMT

Hint:

My personal " very pragmatic approach " :

http://communities.vmware.com/message/1164911#1197123

( I just want to avoid double-posting. )

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

KCLU — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 08:07:55 GMT

Bah, I hate stale proxy pages superimposed over frames. Time to buy a new proxy >:( (I also hate tired mondays).

We still need a management interface.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

wila — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 17:50:23 GMT

nick.couchman wrote:
I have the same experience with the browser plugin for Firefox on Linux - not a whole lot of success. Seems that, first, you have to be root to use it - and running as the root user for extended periods of time is a bad idea - and, second, you need Firefox 1.x or 2.x for it to actually work. Annoying...

No you can use firefox 3.x and don't need to be root. See my article here:
http://planetvm.net/blog/?p=330
The problem is AFAIK that you will need to install VMware server 2.x somewhere in order to get the correct firefox plugin, but it does exist.

--
Wil
_____________________________________________________
Visit the VMware developers wiki at http://www.vi-toolkit.com

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

nick.couchman — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:50:48 GMT

Yeah...for some reason VMware seems to drag their feet on some things, and, despite this thread and a few others like them, getting a Linux-based client or management system doesn't seem to be real high on their priority list. That, or they're struggling with converting that Microsoft locked-in software over to some other platform and getting the compatibility just right.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

nick.couchman — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:48:14 GMT

I have the same experience with the browser plugin for Firefox on Linux - not a whole lot of success. Seems that, first, you have to be root to use it - and running as the root user for extended periods of time is a bad idea - and, second, you need Firefox 1.x or 2.x for it to actually work. Annoying...

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

brunson — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 15:39:00 GMT

Really? They announced it at VMWorld in the middle of September. That's almost six months ago. I can write a whole lot of software in six months. It they'd open sourced their windows client the community probably would have done it for them by now like they did with the kernel drivers.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

oreeh — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 11:25:06 GMT

The vCenter Server for Linux is just a Technology Preview.
You can't honestly expect VMware to have a full featured client in this stage.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

KCLU — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:42:11 GMT

That's nice they are working on something, but the package referred to is the server, not the client.
Without a client I see no way to connect to the management tools on ESXi on Linux directly or even indirectly.
Being just months away from a full re-deployment I would -really- like to finally have the client, but I guess I should not hold my breath.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

cbf305 — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:17:40 GMT

it's getting closer....

You can download a prebuilt VM to play with.

http://www.yellow-bricks.com/2009/02/23/vmware-vcenter-on-linux-technology-preview/

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

KCLU — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:06:18 GMT

What about what was said at VMworld 2008.. a Linux client was to be made available. It's now almost march 2009
VMware Player is cute, but it's not Virtual Infrastructure Client.

Source:
http://windowsitpro.com/article/articleid/100325/vmworld-2008-day-2---linux-virtual-infrastructure-client-vmware-fault-tolerance-vclient.html

Pretty please Mr.VMware?

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

wila — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:23:24 GMT

You are all welcome
As I just had to test the ESXi connection with vmplayer... I did add some screenshots of how it looks with vmplayer as console to the article:
Web Access

--
Wil
_____________________________________________________
Visit the new VMware developers wiki at http://www.vi-toolkit.com

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

stinkymatt — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:17:21 GMT

Thanks for the advice wila. I'll try those options.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

wila — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:49:13 GMT

Tsk tsk.. my reply was to stinkymatt who did mention he wanted to get the web browser plugin working

Anyways...
Did you try the vmplayer alternative? I think you didn't, you are correct that there is no web admin interface in ESXi, but there is one in ESX.
However vmplayer doesn't use the web interface, you can just start it with the -h option and a hostname/IP and you can connect to your ESXi box.. no problem whatsoever.

--
Wil
_____________________________________________________
Visit the new VMware developers wiki at http://www.vi-toolkit.com

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

ronnieredd — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:08:16 GMT

AFAIK there is not a web connection to ESXi - so that method won't work - unless someone knows otherwise.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

DRPend — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:49:21 GMT

Oops! You're right. I did try an install on a debian system using wine, but it never really worked right. I'm using it on some windows clients. Sorry no consistency in the crazy world.

Dan Pendergrass

Systems Integration Specialist

520.570.2932

dan.pendergrass@sunquestinfo.com

www.sunquestinfo.com * 250 S. Williams Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85711

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Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

wila — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 07:55:30 GMT

Hi,

Install VMware Server 2.x on one of your linux boxes and you will be able to install a remote console that:
a) does work with linux firefox 3.x and VMware server, but more importantly
b) does work with VI3 deployments
You can point your other linux boxes that are in need for a new console to the machine that hosts Server 2.x to download a remote console that works.
That console can also be used standalone.

Or...... if you don't want to do that AFAIK you can use a VMware Player 2.x and pass it the URL to your VI3 VMs.
Like this:

vmplayer -h 10.10.10.10 -u "root" -p "password" "[datastore1] 2k3en/2k3en.vmx"

More details are here: Web Access

--
Wil
_____________________________________________________
Visit the new VMware developers wiki at http://www.vi-toolkit.com

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

stinkymatt — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:16:53 GMT

On Linux? I can't find any version of IEtab that will run on Linux.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

DRPend — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:49:17 GMT

I installed the IEtab plugin and have been able to use the console plugin on Firefox with no problem. I'm currently using 3.1 Beta 1.

Dan Pendergrass

Systems Integration Specialist

520.570.2932

dan.pendergrass@sunquestinfo.com

www.sunquestinfo.com * 250 S. Williams Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85711

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

stinkymatt — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:28:04 GMT

I gotta say, I'm pretty frustrated right now. Not only is the VI client only available for winders, the web access doesn't really work either. Pretty much every linux desktop is running Firefox 3 these days, but the VMWare Remote MKS plugin just doesn't work on it. That leaves me with an organization full of Linux desktops that can't access our virtualized servers to do builds. This is just mind-boggling. We're unfortunately committed to a vmware build near-term, but if this doesn't get fixed fast, we're switching to Xen.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

assface — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 11:59:05 GMT

yea,

just for that i've isntalled virtual box and windows, to have ViC at hand.

urgently needed

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

Yulman — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:41:08 GMT

Wow, 3 years and still no Linux client...even Microsoft moves faster than that...well at least sometimes!

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

jragle — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:29:04 GMT

Hey all, we forgot to wish this thread a Happy 3rd birthday (+January 13th 2006+)! How fast 3 years can fly...

We probably do owe some props to VMware for not deleting this.
(+Unlike some companies, <cough> Sony </cough>.+)

Cheers,
-Jamin Ragle
---
VCP, Linux System Administrator, All around great guy.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

nick.couchman — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:15:03 GMT

First, saying that ESX is "Linux-based" is a bit of a mischaracterization. Maybe I'm splitting hairs here, but the VMkernel is its own beast, and VMware uses a Linux-based service console to control it. That still does seem a bit silly that they only have a Windows client for this environment, but anyway...

Also, ESX is a very, very different product from Server, Workstation, and Player. The technologies used to create VMs on the Hypervisor products (ESX, ESXi) vs. the Hosted products (Server, Workstation, Fusion, Player) are fairly different. As far as the other products go, it's all about marketing. Server is targetted at admins who want to be able to run VMs on a standard O/S. Workstation is targetted at software developers who are constantly needing to install new VMs, clone existing ones, etc. Workstation has some features that make it pretty unique among the Hosted family of products. Workstation is also targetted at people who want to create VMs for others to use on Player. Player is targetted at people who simply want to run VMs - no need to create, install O/Ss, etc., just want to run VMs created by others. And Fusion is targetted at Mac users. May seem like splitting hairs, but Server is free and is meant to push you up to the ESXi and then the ESX/vCenter products. Workstation and Fusion are not free, so they get you paying there. And Player is designed to get you hooked on VMware and push you on to either Server or Workstation.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

nick.couchman — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:05:25 GMT

And I thought I was cynical!!

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

nick.couchman — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:00:14 GMT

I'm also skeptical to see something like that out on a site other than VMware's - I think I'll believe it when VMware releases a news article on their own site promising such.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

nick.couchman — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:51:24 GMT

They got caught up in the .NET craze and just had to write something in .NET, just like so many other software companies out there. That's what is truly sad - that people's heads are turned enough by the marketing stuff put out by Microsoft to think that if they don't write an app in .NET, people aren't going to buy the software. Okay, so maybe that's a bit cynical...still, doesn't seem like it would be that hard to port it over to the MONO project for .NET support under Linux...

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

seryeb2 — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 04:37:34 GMT

I join the request.

The client for VI and the Virtual Center in Linux is more important for vmware than vmware thinks.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

sean.carolan — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:15:30 GMT

What's sort of sad is, they have some decent command line tools for managing VMWare ESX servers. The ESX server itself is running Linux. Amazingly short-sighted of VMWare to have made the management tool Windows specific, instead of a Java applet running in a web browser or something similar.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

cas5213 — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:32:40 GMT

Yet another supporter for this. It would make life much easier in day to day adminstration. I was shocked when I realized the VIC could not be natively used in *nix and required running a virtual machine with WIndows....I hope to see this come to market soon!

Thanks!

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

Bret Palsson — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:44:42 GMT

Yeah they say that. It's an empty promise. I've been hearing that for years. They need to deliver when they make a statement like that.

VCP

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

cbf305 — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:42:39 GMT

Have you guys seen this article? It was posted on Sept 17, 2008.

http://windowsitpro.com/article/articleid/100325/vmworld-2008-day-2---linux-virtual-infrastructure-client-vmware-fault-tolerance-vclient.html

It says that VMware has announced that a VIC version is coming for Linux.

Also take a look at these:

http://www.bluebearllc.net/kodiak/

http://desktopecho.com/iMKS/

I haven't installed either one, but the kodiak tool looks pretty good in the screenshots and video.

Re: VI3: Linux Client, Please

DRPend — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:36:24 GMT

What it gets down to is that VMWare is making the same mistake that so many former Microsoft rivals have made. Go for market share and get burned by playing in MS's neighborhood. After all who doesn't know that MS leveraged their lawsuit aginst Xen into partnership disclosure (read parasitize). That's how MS got the Viridian line before Citrix came on the scene . So now VMWare is trying to keep the $$$ market and are dropping the Linux folks like a bad habit. Extend, embrace, conquer. Another one bites the dust. Gosh VMWare it's been a nice ride, but I've seen this act too many times before and it's more than I can take. It doesn't mean much to me anymore though. Not too many years left and I'll be dropping out of the rat race, but I feel for you young bucks. Once Microsoft gets the upper hand they'll put everyone out of business that doesn't pay up.

First one's free little girl

Last one will cost you your soul.