Debian 9 here, but can you try this:
vmware-collect:/usr/lib/vmware-vcli/apps/general # ./connect.pl --url https://vcenter-fqdn.com/sdk/vimService
Enter username: user
Enter password: password
Connection SuccessfulServer Time : 2018-04-09T01:16:43.392845Z
--
Alex
(VMware VCAP-DCV, NetApp NCIE, LPIC 2)
