VMware vSphere Client on Microsoft Windows 7!
May 29, 2009 Blogs
Heiko Verlande has found a way to run the VMware vSphere Client on Windows 7. Too bad this howto is in Dutch, many people could benefit from this information. That’s why I’ve create a simplified translation of his post. Find Heiko’s original post here: VMware vSphere client op Windows 7 (build 7127).
Running the vSphere Client on Windows 7
- Copy System.dll (%SystemRoot%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\) from a non-Windows 7 system with Microsoft .NET 3.5 SP1 installed to the Windows 7 system (or download it from Heiko’s site).
- Place the file in C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher\Lib\.
- Edit the VpxClient.exe.config file (C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher\). Add the following:
<runtime> <developmentMode developerInstallation="true"/> </runtime>
- Add the DEVPATH variable via Control Panel → System → Advanced System Settings → Environment Variables to the User Variables. Reboot after these steps.
DEVPATH=C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher\Lib
Update
A lot of people commented on this post, that even after applying this workaround, the vSphere Client still doesn’t work. Michaelm comments on the problem: please make sure you re-type the quotation marks after copy/pasting above information into VpxClient.exe.config. The quotation marks get screwed up by the layout on the blog.
Secondly, make sure you add the DEVPATH variable to User Variables and reboot afterwards. This will let you run the vSphere Client as a normal user.
June 10th, 2009 at 15:30
I get “Please enter a valid server name” when using a IP address to vCenter… Any help?
thx
June 17th, 2009 at 10:29
Same here!
“Please enter a valid server name”
June 22nd, 2009 at 21:27
Here’s the batch commands in PowerShell:
$env:DEVPATH = “C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher\Lib”
& “C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher\VpxClient.exe”
June 26th, 2009 at 10:30
I find that setting the DEVPATH var a system-wide environment variable via system settings works even better. That way you do not need to run the batch file as an administrator, and hence you do not need to run the vSphere client as administrator, which has my preference.
June 26th, 2009 at 13:36
Michiel, that is absolutely true, thanks for your addition. Will ammend it to the blogpost this weekend.
July 1st, 2009 at 11:28
“Please enter a valid server name”
Same here… any suggestions?
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:57
Bonjour,
The original solution works fine, but (as Stefan, Millman say) something’s missing :
VpxClient.exe had to be run in “XP SP2″ Compatibility mode.
todo:
-right-click this file, properties, compatibility tab, make your choice…
or,
richt-click, Troubleshoot Compatibility (which is pretty cool).
July 7th, 2009 at 23:06
This thing is still telling me to enter a valid server name… IP address doesn’t work! Any help? Please! Win 7 is crazy!
July 29th, 2009 at 18:46
Wildman3170, Run the Command file as an administrator (Right Mouse Click over it and choose Run as Administrator) That will remove the server error.
August 3rd, 2009 at 7:53
Works great – thanks! For the non-programmers like me – make sure the runtime directive falls within the configuration directive.
ie:
August 3rd, 2009 at 7:54
Last comment got chopped so the beginning of the file should be in this order:
configuration
runtime
developmentMode
/runtime
system.net
August 5th, 2009 at 11:29
Everything works fine! Don’t forget to put the
”
” part between the ” ” options in the xml. If just add it to the file, the trick won’t work.
Viktor
August 12th, 2009 at 6:42
Salut Joep,
It worked for me. I just had to configure the vsphere client to be runned in compatibility mode for Windows XP SP2. (right click on the shortcut > properties > compatibility.
My laptops is on W 7 Ultimate.
August 14th, 2009 at 23:02
Anyone get this to work on Windows 7 RTM it is not working for me, same error as before.
August 18th, 2009 at 20:06
I too cannot get this to work on windows 7 rtm
August 20th, 2009 at 1:34
Does this only work on x64 versions of windows 7 or x86 as well? I can’t get it to work for the life of me, i tried everything in here even the compatibility mode.
I’m running the RTM version of Windows 7 as well.
August 22nd, 2009 at 1:51
Remeber the example above is for 64bit so you have to replace any reference to “C:\Program Files (x86)\” to C:\Program Files\” for the 32bit flavor.
August 24th, 2009 at 4:19
Great procedures to enable vShepre client.
August 28th, 2009 at 16:14
[...] VMware vSphere Client on Microsoft Windows 7! | Virtual Lifestyle – Heiko Verlande has found a way to run the VMware vSphere Client on Windows 7. [...]
August 28th, 2009 at 20:03
The key is here for those with the name issue, in the last line make sure the forward slash is in the line. I was getting the same error, put the / in and it tests fine.
Thanks for the help guys!
September 2nd, 2009 at 17:56
i just installed Windows 7 on my PC. i just hope that it is as stable as Windows XP.
September 12th, 2009 at 19:12
[...] VMware vSphere Client on Microsoft Windows 7! | Virtual Lifestyle. Posted by Chris Virtualization Subscribe to RSS feed [...]
September 15th, 2009 at 9:33
it’s easy, in configuration file put
before line and not after…
September 15th, 2009 at 9:34
it’s easy, in configuration file put runtime part as shown above
before end of configuration line and not after…
September 21st, 2009 at 7:55
These instructions do work, however to clarify, getting around the “valid server name” issue means updating the configuration file using the order given by Mike V ( section comes first within ).
September 21st, 2009 at 7:56
last comment didn’t work
. This is what I mean.
configuration
run time
developmentMode
run time
system.net
appSettings
configuration
September 23rd, 2009 at 3:17
Hi Guys,
If you are having issues with “configuration system failed to initialize” error even though you have edited the Vpxclient.exe, make sure that you go over the quotation marks(“..”)
When I copies the text the quotation copies incorrectly into Notepad and you will get issue.
You will notice this when you compare them to the quotation marks at the top of the VPXClient.exe configuration file.
If you are unsure, copy the text from above instead and this should resolve your issue – Since the text has been formatted to stop this issue.
October 1st, 2009 at 21:57
Thxs works like a charm
at first i had “Please enter a valid server name” error but i had the:
outside the
October 3rd, 2009 at 14:35
works a treat, thanks for the info
October 8th, 2009 at 17:43
Remember to unlock the system.dll file…
October 12th, 2009 at 19:59
The windows 7 patch rocks. Works First time round!!!
Good Job Guys
October 14th, 2009 at 16:48
use this link:
http://paste.frubar.net/11236
for german tutorial and windows 7 enterp. 32 bit
October 16th, 2009 at 11:11
hi,everybody
l m trying everthing
just displaying
entrance window
ıp
username
password
after
nothing
my os is w7 32bit
can anyone help more???
October 16th, 2009 at 22:27
ozaz1326: do you get a specific error? Without any detail, I’m afraid I can’t help you.
October 20th, 2009 at 18:42
Works straight forward, thanks!
On the VMware Support site the only thing I could find, that Windows 7 ist still not supported. This is rather lame, since the RC was available very long and the final version also.
November 17th, 2009 at 0:52
I have done something wrong still getting “Please enter valid server name”.
Have set VpxClient.exe to run in Windows XP Sp2 compatibility mode as Administator
Have changed VpxClient.exe.config to:
Have set System Variable to:
Variable: Devpath
Value: C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher\Lib
Had to create Lib folder in:
C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher
Downloaded system.dll from link at top of this post and pasted there.
Am running Windows 7 x64 6.1 Build 7600
What am I missing?
November 20th, 2009 at 0:09
Hi guys.
I found a SOLUTION for issue “please enter valid server name”
The .cmd file for starting the vpxclient simply does not work when copied from the blogs – there is a problem with the double quotes…
If you get “enter valid server name” please check that you didn’t copy the double quotes into the .config file!!! Erase and retype them manually!
It took me half an hour to find out that my double quotes are wrong (thanks to wordpress and others)
I’m running Windows 2007 Ultimate 32bit and now my vSphere-Client is working as expected
best regards flo
December 2nd, 2009 at 15:35
Liked the solution, and made a nice installer for it so others don’t have to implement the fix manually. http://www.lynxsoft.nl/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=category&id=1:vmware-esx&Itemid=53
December 4th, 2009 at 9:55
Leon, VMware has released Update 1 of the vSphere Client, which has full support for Windows 7. There’s no need to modify the previous version of the client to work with W7, just install the new version.
December 7th, 2009 at 15:58
I noticed the update1 a bit late, but thanks for the suggestion anyway. If you guys fix anything in the future and want a good quality installer for it just let me know.
regards,
Leon.
December 14th, 2009 at 19:33
Worked just fine here after lots of tries
Every steps were important, but i wasted a lot of time in the .options file.. “Please enter a valid server name”
I was missing the text order.. got it right in:
http://paste.frubar.net/11236
Thanks guys!
December 14th, 2009 at 23:31
Paulo,
Or you can just download and use Update 1 of VMware vSphere, which includes support for W7.
February 4th, 2010 at 9:02
How funny people keep downloading the fix i created even now they could opt for update 1. The download counter reached 300 today
February 16th, 2010 at 21:51
Anybody have a link to the new client? I have ESXi 3.5, and I can’t find a link I can use to get the client. All the links I find are for eval versions of vSphere full version… I just need the client.
February 17th, 2010 at 12:42
The client can be downloaded from the VMware site. It is included in the vSphere suite. So request a evaluation of vSphere, and download the client..