vSphere C# client is dead, now what?!

Today (18-05,2016), VMware officially announced the following about the vSphere C# client:

The vSphere C# client will no longer be available with the next release of vSphere”

While VMware has been signalling this transition over the past few vSphere releases and this isn’t necessarily a new direction, VMware have not made an official  statement regarding the EOL of vSphere C# client. The C# client will continue to be available with all supported version of vSphere. This means all 5.x and 6.0 versions will offer this interface through the posted end of support dates.

vSphere C# Client FAQ

What is VMware announcing on 18 May 2016?

VMware is announcing that the C# client will no longer be available with the next release of vSphere.

Why is VMware making this announcement now?

VMware has been transiting away from the C# client for the last several releases. In recent updates made to vSphere 6.0 VMware has moved functionality into the web client (such as Update Manager) that has further removed the need to run the C# client at all. VMware is also committed in its journey to provide an HTML5-based Web Client in addition to its Flash-based offering to market.

Why is the web client (WC) a better choice than the c# client?

  • Scalability – WC handles more objects and more concurrent admin access.
  • Bookmarking URLs – WC allows you to quickly return to specific objects or views and share them with others (such as in a support ticket).
  • Recent Objects – WC lets you navigate quickly between things you’re working on.
  • Work-In-Progress – WC lets you save your work and come back to it later, even from another computer.
  • Enhanced Linked Mode – WC can call up all your inventory in one view.
  • Remembers user customizations to UI – WC enables column selections and widths on grids, portlets on summary pages.
  • Latest feature support – WC is the only interface to support all new features.

“I hate flash and don’t want to use a web client that uses that technology layer”

VMware agrees that flash is not the solution for the long-term. The long-term direction is to utilize HTML5. Customers can experience this right now by using our flings for both the embedded host client and web client available at VMware Flings website. An HTML5 client will be available in future versions of vSphere.

When is the next release of vSphere?

The date or launch timing for the next release of vSphere is not being disclosed at this time.

Will the C# client still be available at all?

The C# client will still be supported with all non-EOL’d vSphere versions prior and post the next release.

Has performance and overall usability being addressed in the web client?

Performance and overall usability have been dramatically improved with the release of vSphere 6 update 1 (released September 2015) and even further enhanced now that update 2 has become available (March 2016). VMware invite all customers to test the latest web client with the latest releases.

I use specific plug-ins with vCenter. How do I migrate Web Client 3rd party plug-ins to HTML5?

Around 30-40% of the partner plug-ins are already in HTML5, we are working with the rest of the partner base to migrate them over to HTML5.

Cheers!

– Marek.Z

Be the first to comment

Leave a reply...