vSphere 5 also offers vSphere Web Client, which is an application that provides a browser-based alternative to the traditional vSphere Client. With vSphere Web Client, administrators can use a web browser to connect to vSphere or directly to the ESXi host through a vCenter Server.

In Version 5.1 and later of vSphere, web client becomes a core administrative interface for your virtual environment and comes with additional features not available in vSphere Client, which are listed as follows:

To install and start vSphere Web Client, you will need the vCenter installer. Launch autorun.exe, select the VMware vSphere® Web Client (Server) option, and then click on Install. Follow the wizard to finish installation. Once it's completed, register one or more vCenter servers on the vSphere Web Client Administration application page in the browser. You will need to use the address in IPv6 format if your vCenter uses an IPv6 address or enter FQDN, which is preferable.

vSphere Client hardware requirements are:

vSphere Client requires Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1. If it is not installed, it will be deployed by the vSphere Client installer.

The operating systems supported by vSphere Client are Windows clients starting from Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows servers starting from Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2.

The vSphere Web Client hardware requirements are:

The following browsers are supported by vSphere Web Client 5:

vSphere Web Client 5.1 also supports:

The operating systems supported by vSphere Web Client are:

vSphere Web Client also requires Adobe Flash Player Version 10.1.0 or later to be installed with the appropriate plugin for your browser.