VMworld 2015: vSphere Web Client- Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

vSphere Web Client Yesterday, Today and TomorrowYavor Boychev, VMware, IncDennis Lu, VMware, IncINF5093#INF5093

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CONFIDENTIAL2

This presentation may contain product features that are currently under development.This overview of new technology represents no commitment from VMware to deliver these features in any generally available product.Features are subject to change, and must not be included in contracts, purchase orders, or sales agreements of any kind.Technical feasibility and market demand will affect final delivery.Pricing and packaging for any new technologies or features discussed or presented have not been determined.

Disclaimer

AgendaCONFIDENTIAL31HTML52Web Client Improvements in vSphere 6.03Some Cool New Stuff Coming Soon

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The Voice of Our Customers Its hard to find my way around

Its slooow

Its not on feature parity with the VI Client

Its Flash

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Introducing the HTML5 vSphere Host Client5

Troubleshoot individual host or VMsConduct basic administrative tasks such as the create/update/delete of host resourcesGreenfield deployment

Expected Use CasesAvailable via the browser (Windows, Linux, Mac)Negligible host resource requirementsConsole access to VM through WebMKSIterative development cycle and releasesHTML5 direction for the vSphere clients

Host Client attributesTry it out now!Released FlingCONFIDENTIAL

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HTML5 Web ClientIts Coming

Tech Preview

CONFIDENTIAL6

666Tech Preview Not any time soon, if ever. Just showing were working on it.

Fast Feedback: vSphere 6 Web Client

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Its slooow


Its Flash

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Home Menu Allows Very Fast Navigation Between Views9

Lots of up and down navigationProblemAdd menu for navigation across functionsSolutionCONFIDENTIAL

We heard from you9

vSphere 6 Web Client Improved Navigation (Action Menus)CONFIDENTIAL10

After

Before

Too much mouse traversal, too many clicks All vCenter ActionsProblemFlatter, more familiar menuSolution

Action Menus Have Less Clicks and are More Familiar

After (6.0)

Before (5.5)

Too much mouse traversal, too many clicks All vCenter ActionsProblemFlatter, more familiar menuSolutionCONFIDENTIAL11

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Recent Tasks at the Bottom Allows Room for More InformationCONFIDENTIAL12

Hard to troubleshoot with Recent Tasks due to limited screen real estateProblemDisplay more information by moving the Recent Tasks at the bottomSolution

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Docking UI allows customization of Web Client layout13Dont like the default layout. Want to move things around.ProblemCustomizable UI. Can move panes around (more columns/data visible). Can restore defaults if neededSolutionCONFIDENTIAL

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Docking UI Allows Customization of Web Client Layout14Dont like the default layout. Want to move things around.ProblemCustomizable UI. Can move panes around (more columns/data visible). Can restore defaults if neededSolution

CONFIDENTIAL

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Docking UI Allows Customization of Web Client LayoutDont like the default layout. Want to move things around.ProblemCustomizable UI. Can move panes around (more columns/data visible). Can restore defaults if neededSolution

CONFIDENTIAL15

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Its slooow


Its Flash

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vSphere 6 Web Client Improved Performance (Summary Views)17Before (5.5)

After (6.0)*Time only includes draw times, no mouse movement time

Select VC, Datacenter, Cluster, Host, VM, in orderCONFIDENTIAL

13 seconds vs 5 seconds

First click plays left video, 2nd click shows 6.0, 3rd click plays 6.0

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2x Performance on Summary Views18

Before (5.5)After (6.0)CONFIDENTIAL

13 seconds vs 5 seconds


Opening a Hosts Action Menu*Time only includes draw times, no mouse movement time

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vSphere 6 Web Client Improved Performance (Action Menus)19Before (5.5)After (6.0)*Time only includes draw times, no mouse movement time

Opening a Hosts Action MenuCONFIDENTIAL

6.5sec vs 0.5 sec


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10x Performance on Action Menus20

Before (5.5)After (6.0)CONFIDENTIAL

6.5sec vs 0.5 sec



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vSphere Web Client 5 Features You May Not Know About (5.5+)212. History Right click for more

3. Recent Objects Jump around quickly

1. Shift+Click Select multiple objects, batch actions

4. Minimize Wizard Save Progress (Across sessions!)

5. Browser Bookmark Save and Share URLs using your browser

CONFIDENTIAL

Bookmark Licensing, or an object for collaboration21

Its now much more user friendly, snappier and responsive Hundreds of performance and usability fixes

Coming Soon: Performance improvements in vSphere 5.5 U3

Coming Soon: More improvements in vSphere 6.0U1

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Its slooow


Its Flash

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Live Refresh of Recent Tasks and Alarms242016+

6.0 U1Viewing All Users Tasks and Alarms has a delayProblemLive Refresh of Recent Tasks and Alarms

Solution

CONFIDENTIAL

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vSphere Update Manager UI in Web ClientCONFIDENTIAL25

I still need to switch to the VI Client if I need to use vSphere Update Manager

ProblemFull blown feature vSphere Update Manager plugin for the Web Client

Solution6.0 U1

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vSphere Update Manager26

I still need to switch to the VI Client if I need to use vSphere Update Manager

ProblemFull blown feature vSphere Update Manager plugin for the Web Client

Solution

6.0 U1CONFIDENTIAL

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Custom Attributes UI in Web Client27Tech PreviewTags are not the same, and I still need to switch to the VI Client if I need to use Custom Attributes

ProblemBring Custom Attributes into the Web Client

Solution

Custom Attributes Portlet

CONFIDENTIAL

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Custom Attributes28Tech PreviewTags are not the same, and I still need to switch to the VI Client if I need to use Custom Attributes

ProblemBring Custom Attributes into the Web Client

Solution

Custom Attributes Portlet

CONFIDENTIAL

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Onyx Record PowerCLI from Web Client29PowerCLI is powerful, but hard to learn

ProblemTurn recorded Web Client actions into PowerCLI scripts

SolutionReleased Fling

https://labs.vmware.com/flings/onyx-for-vsphere-web-client CONFIDENTIAL

PowerActions Execute PowerCLI Directly from Web Client30

Web Client is more convenient, but PowerCLI is more powerful

ProblemBring PowerCLI into the Web Client

SolutionReleased Fling

https://labs.vmware.com/flings/poweractions-for-vsphere-web-client CONFIDENTIAL

Auto Deploy and Image Builder UIs in Web Client31Auto Deploy, Image Builder lack full featured UIs

ProblemBring them into the Web Client

SolutionTech Preview

CONFIDENTIAL

Socialcast Integration for Enterprise Collaboration32

Web Client lacks integration with common communication+collaboration platforms

ProblemIntegration with Socialcast also provides easy notifications model and integration with 3rd parties like JIRA and PagerDuty

Solution

Mobile App Available nowSummary page Socialcast portlet Tech PreviewCONFIDENTIAL

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Solutions Exchange Web Client Plug-ins all in One Place33

CONFIDENTIAL

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POLLINGtext webclient to 22333

or

Visit pollev.com/webclient

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First Poll35

Registertext webclient to 22333orVisit pollev.com/webclientCONFIDENTIALEnvironmentWeb ClientVI ClientvSphere 5.5(or earlier)ABvSphere 6CD

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Whats Next? Sneak Peak Seeking feedback

New features based on your feedback36

More Performance Improvements37Performance still worse than Client for WindowsProblemMeasure performance everywhere and fix it!Prioritize most used workflows (Opt-In to CEIP!)Solution

CONFIDENTIAL

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Web Client Upgrade Improvements without Touching vCenter38

Registertext webclient to 22333orVisit pollev.com/webclientA Dont careB Like itC Love itVOTE!CONFIDENTIAL

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UI Enhancements Reduce Clicks and Make Things Easier to Find39

Recent Objects Pane

Action buttons on top

CONFIDENTIAL

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Go to Menu Speed Up Navigation40New Go to Menu Fast access to objects subtabs


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Promote Related Objects Ease Discovery of Objects41New Object tabs + Sub-tabs

Hosts -> Hosts, Resource PoolsVMs -> VMs, vAppsDatastores -> Datastores, Datastore ClustersNetworks -> Networks, Distributed SwitchesCONFIDENTIAL

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Action Labels Make Actions Easier to Identify42Action Labels

CONFIDENTIAL

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Hover search Search for Settings43Search


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Closing

HTML5

Web Client improvements in vSphere 6.0

Some cool new stuff coming soon

CONFIDENTIAL44

HTML5 Host Client fling available

Web Client improvements in vSphere 6.0 We heard everyone, and we made a lot of improvements. Try it out in Hands-On-Labs, 1410

Some cool new stuff coming soon making cool new stuff requires your feedback, so please keep giving it to us44

Q & A

Wiki at tiny.cc/webclientwikiHands on Lab available on the website: Search for 1410Web Client Challenge: it will take some period to become immersed and used to using Web Client.45

**UNOFFICIAL** Wiki46

Contains many tips/tricks for using vSphere Web Client. Consider contributing! This is a publically accessible website, so do be careful with what you add.

Very useful tips are marked with a *

Learning Web Client section highlights differences between Desktop client and Web Client, helping you in the switchover.

Short URL:tiny.cc/webclientwikihttps://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/VSphere_Web_Client

CONFIDENTIAL

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vSphere Web Client Yesterday, Today and TomorrowYavor Boychev, VMware, IncDennis Lu, VMware, IncINF5093#INF5093

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Reference SlidesThese slides show more of the features of vSphere Web Client. For easy reference, it is a superset of the preceding stuff

Agenda

WikibookFeatures available in vSphere 5.5Features available in vSphere 6.0vSphere 6 feedbackGlossary

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vSphere Web Client Features 5.5

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HistoryFast way to get back to previous views. Works just like a browser back button.The neighboring right-arrow acts as a forward button.

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Recently Visited & Created ObjectsSuper fast way to get to objects youve recently worked on. This is great for jumping between a group of objects youre working on collectively, while saving a lot of navigating time.54

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Hide All Getting Started PagesThe Getting Started pages are great in the beginning. But they can be easily hidden by going to the Help menu, and clicking Hide All Getting Started Pages. This becomes Show All Getting Started Pages if you want to bring them back later.55

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Schedule TasksWhen performing an action on an object (right click, or through Action menu), you can press Ctrl and schedule some actions. The ones that can be scheduled will gain a clock icon. Select the action and you will get scheduling options.Can also be created under an objects Manage -> Scheduled Tasks tab56

Right click on an object and hold down Ctrl

Or within Manage -> Scheduled Tasks

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Batch Actions Shift+click to select multipleMany Batch Actions are available in vSphere Web Client (Migrate, VM power on/off, Host power on/off, etc).One improvement over Desktop Client, you can select a mix of objects (some on, some off) and apply the Power On action, and you will get a dialog notifying you only the applicable subset will be acted on.57

Select oneShift +ClickPerform action(right click, or use Action Menu)

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Bookmarks saving and sharing URLsThe URL for any view in Web Client, objects, administrative views, can be reused. You can bookmark Datacenter -> Monitor -> Issues and use that as your homepage, for example.This may be especially useful for support cases that span multiple calls or people. At the end of a call, bookmark a certain view post the link into the support ticket, which can be used for the next call or by the next person.

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Work in Progress Save WizardsThis allows you to minimize wizards, saving your work. This is great for long wizards (some of the networking ones), pausing in the middle of your work to complete another task, or find some information. You can then resume by clicking on the entry in the Work In Progress pane. This is also saved and persists across sessions.*You can also click and drag the title bar to move it, double click it to maximize it, and resize using the bottom right corner59

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Related ObjectsRelated Objects This is a new tab, and is somewhat hard to understand and use. Related Objects collects all of the object tabs into one parent tab.Instead of a VMs tab showing the VMs on a host, or a Hosts tab on a cluster, these objects (and more!) are clustered under Related Objects60

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Saved SearchesOur advanced search dialog allows you to create very complicated searches, and then you can save them and quickly access them.61

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Keyboard Combination*ActionCtrl+Alt+sQuick SearchCtrl+Alt+Home OR Ctrl+Alt+1Home ScreenCtrl+Alt+2Virtual Infrastructure InventoryCtrl+Alt+3Hosts and Clusters InventoryCtrl+Alt+4VMs and Templates InventoryCtrl+Alt+5Datastores and Datastore Clusters InventoryCtrl+Alt+6Networking Inventory

Shortcut Keys for Navigation*On a Mac, substitute Command for Ctrl62

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HierarchyThis button allows you to view how your object sits in the various hierarchies, including folders. This can be extra helpful when youre in the List view, where you are not navigating in the trees.63

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vSphere 6 Web Client

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Quick Notes65Firefox, Chrome, IE11 are all around the same performance. Performance testing on vSphere 6 shows no browser beating others. IE11 works better with compatibility mode.

vSphere 6 Web Client can be used to manage vSphere 5.5 vCenter(s) in a mode called Mixed-Version environments.

Many new settings are available in the webclient.properties file.

Measurements in 5.5 had previously recommended IE11 and Chrome over Firefox. Firefox and IE11 may be best to recommend now, due to their friendlier stance on NPAPI. IE11 compatibility mode may be necessary for the Client Integration Plugin to work.

Chrome blocks 32 bit plugins.

Mixed-version setups require external SSO to be upgraded to vSphere 6 PSC. This type of environment would allow customers to start using the new vSphere Web Client without touching their production vCenter servers.

Location of webclient.properties file:vCenter Server Appliance (vSphere 6):/etc/vmware/vsphere-client/webclient.propertiesWindows vCenter Server:C:\ProgramData\VMware\vCenterServer\cfg\vsphere-client\webclient.properties

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Summary pages

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Before (5.5)After (6.0)

Select VC, Datacenter, Cluster, Host, VM, in order*Time only includes draw times, no mouse movement time

13 seconds vs 5 seconds66

Host Action Menu67Before (5.5)After (6.0)


6.5sec vs 0.5 sec67

Putting tasks back in their placeProblem: Hard to troubleshoot using Recent Tasks due to limited screen real estate.Fix: Display more information by moving Recent Tasks to the bottom of the screen.68

Before (5.5)

After (6.0)

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Dockable UI (customizable UI)Problem: Workspace (or another pane) needs to be wider to display more information, or panes need to be Fix: Customizable UI. Every pane but the central work space can be dragged like a window to different locations. Reset by: Click on your Username on the top right -> Layout Settings -> Reset to Default69

Default 6.0Customized for more workspace

Recent Tasks and Alarms panes can also be dismissed entirely, while Work in Progress and Navigation panes can be pinned off.

Can reset to default. Can also disable this on the entire server using a config file entry.69

Improve Tasks Liveness (faster refresh time)Problem: Tasks take too long to show upFix: Separate the refresh/polling timer for Tasks from the global refresh.70Change the tasks.refresh.rate setting in webclient.properties

vCenter Server Appliance (vSphere 6):/etc/vmware/vsphere-client/webclient.properties

Windows vCenter Server:C:\ProgramData\VMware\vCenterServer\cfg\vsphere-client\webclient.properties

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Making right-click work like it did beforeProblem: Too slow to navigate to frequent actions.Fix: Flatten the right-click menus, make them closer to Windows Client

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Improving Lateral Navigation Home menuProblem: Lots of up and down navigation via Home.Fix: Add menu for navigation across functions.72

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Object AggregationProblem: Aggregation of objects increases number of clicks, and are unintuitiveFix: Make the aggregation limit configurable (per object type), and allow users to disable it entirely73

Aggregates at 20Limit configurable in webclient.properties

(Can also be disabled)


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74Fast feedback:

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Hands on Lab vSphere 6 HOL-SDC-1410Go to http://labs.hol.vmware.com/, Register/LoginSearch for 1410, the lab number of HOL-SDC-1410 - Virtualization 101 - vSphere with Operations Management, and EnrollOpen Firefox or Chrome, check Use Windows session authentication, and click Login

*Recommend closing the Manual panel (click on the x), or popping it out (More Options -> Split Screen -> Open.In a new Window)

75Try vSphere 6 without installation!

Keep in mind, performance not necessarily representative. Layers of VMs and remote desktop connectivity.75

Challenge: vSphere Web Client for a month76

Spend one month using Web Client as your first, second, and third choice client

Week 1 (Day 1): Read tiny.cc/webclientwiki Hide or Delete your Desktop client shortcut. When you have a problem, go search the Internet first for how to do it in Web Client. (VUM excepted, for now)

Week 2:Uninstall Desktop client.Install it each day you want to use it, and uninstall at the end of the day.

Week 3-4: Uninstall Desktop client permanently. Immersion time is necessary to become accustomed to the differences

End: Discuss pros/cons with fellow admins, contact Web Client PM with feedback (positive or negative)

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Glossary

Some slides showing vSphere Web Client terms

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Naming78Some of the items in Web Client are well labelled (Alarms pane, Work In Progress pane, Recent Tasks pane), or hopefully evident (username, help, search)

Some are not labelled. The main ones are shown above with their proper names attached.

Object NavigatorWorkspaceHome ButtonUsernameGlobal RefreshAlarms PaneWork in Progress PaneRecent Tasks Pane

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Naming79Our Action menus appear when you right click on any object, but can also be accessed through various locations with the Actions dropdown. The Gear icon is also used to denote actions.

Scheduling can be done for some actions by pressing Ctrl while the menu is open.Action Menu(Right click an object)

Also accessible here for viewed object

And here for object(s) selected in list

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Object Navigator (1/2): Tree View80Clicking on Hosts and Clusters gets you to the familiar tree as in the Desktop Client

Similarly with VMs and Templates, Storage, and Networking.

vSphere 6 (easier to find)

vSphere 5.5

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Object Navigator (2/2): Lists81

Clicking on vCenter Inventory Lists gets you the List views where you can view single types of objects in a flat list. This view is unique to vSphere Web Client and is especially helpful in very large environments, or for admins working with a small set of objects across many different Datacenters, Hosts, Folders, etc.vSphere 6

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Technology

VMworld 2015: vSphere Web Client- Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow