A couple of days late this time but here is your monthly dose of Flings! No new ones but seven flings have been updated by VMware labs this month. The Horizon Toolbox, vSphere HTML5 Web Client and the ESXi Embedded host client make their almost monthly appearances while at least two other received updates in a long time: Cross vCenter Vm Mobility – CLI and the VMFork for pyVmomi. The HCIBench and Desktop Watermark also received an update.
ESXi Embedded Host Client
By now we should all be using the embedded host Client unless you are forced by greater powers to run on some ancient version of ESXi.
Version 1.24.0 build 7119706 (Fling 19) – November 13, 2017
Minor features and bugfixes
- GeneralFix failure to deploy OVF/OVA image with disks attached to multiple disk controllers
- Address race condition when adding new Network Adapter to virtual machine
- Allow datastore browser to browse VVOL datastores
- Address timeout issue in datastore browser when client receives unknown datatypes from host
- Address issue disabling autostart for a VM
- Allow downloading of flat VMDK files in datastore browser
- Show the correct VMware Tools version string in VM summary
- Show pager in VM editor when VM has many hard disks
- Support OVF properties with pre-defined values, showing dropdowns
- Allow modifications of root user’s permissions
- Support for selecting dependent PCI devices when enabling passthrough
- Other minor bug fixes
vSphere HTML5 Web Client
Like always the HTML5 Web Client received multiple updates in November so the changelog is rather long.
Fling 3.29 – Build 7157335
New Features
- Configure traffic filtering and marking rules on distributed port groups
- Export and import distributed switches and distributed port groups
Improvements
- Configure the policies of distributed port groups inside the New Distributed Port Group wizard
Bug Fixes
- Fixed an error when trying to edit the settings of VMs with failed installation or update of the VM tools
Fling 3.28 – Build 7110681
New Features
- Configure advanced CPU Identification Mask
- Select PVRDMA adapter type for a VM network
Improvements
- Thanks to the fling users who gave the steps to replace the certificates for FAMI UI running at port 5490, added these instructions to v4 of “Create a new certificate for a HTML5 client fling” document
Bug Fixes
- Licensing views should be visible for 6.0 VC/PSCs
Fling 3.27 – Build 7055108
New Features
- Popout the Datastore File browser
- License Details
- View License VC assets (Read-only)
Improvements
- Set license name in the Add License workflow
Known Issues
- License UI might not work against 6.0 VCs, in particular Windows VCs/PSCs.
- If you see error in the vSphere Client (HTML5) similar to this – ‘getHostIsAssignLicenseActionAvailable’, then you can resolve this error by following below steps:
- If vSphere Client (HTML5) Fling appliance is pointed to a vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA), then you should reregister the fling appliance by logging in to FAMI UI (or by running the config-ui CLI). Refer the instructions document to follow the steps for configuring Fling appliance for VCSA.
- If vSphere Client (HTML5) Fling appliance is pointed to a Windows vCenter Server, then reregister by downloading latest server-configure.bat from the Download section of this website. Refer the instructions document to follow the steps for configuring Fling appliance for Windows vCenter Server.
VMFork for pyVmomi
This fling has been around for a while and if you ever wanted to fork your VM’s without having to study PowerCLi then this one is for you. It has a warning that it only supports vSphere 6.0 and 6.5 and no newer releases but hey there are none yet so please use it if you like.
Changelog
Version 1.0.3
- Fixed a bug that prevented CreateChildSpec from being referenced in versions of 6.5 of pyVmomi
- Updated the requirement to include pyVmomi 6.5 only, up from 6.0, due to a dependency issue
Version 1.0.2
- Bug fixes & Improvements
Desktop Watermark
Want to make sure screenshots will show that it is your Image being used then the Desktop Watermark fling can be the tool of choice. It can be used for auditing or exhibition purposes or any other way you like. And yes that type in the changelog is a straight copy/paste from the site.
Changelog
Build 1027
Addition
- Password protection for the configuration & uninstllation
Cross vCenter VM Mobility – CLI
Ever needed to migrate or clones VM’s form one vCenter to the other while there they are not linked? then the Cross vCenter VM Mobility – CLI might be a good tool in your toolbox.
Changelog
Version 1.4
- While migrating multiple vms with destination network option, only one vm used to get migrated.This issue has been fixed.
HCIBench
Need to benchmark a Hyperconverged Infrastructure? VDbench is one of the tools to use and VMware labs create the HCIBench to automate this tool. It received a couple of updates since my last post about it.
Changelog
Version 1.6.5.1
- Enhanced IP segment selection
- Set open file limit to 4096
- Updated vm-tools to the latest version
- Bug fixes
Version 1.6.5
- Enhanced 95th percentile calculation.
- Added Curve and Multi Run calculation.
- Added SSH Service validation.
- Replaced DHCP Service with Static IP Service.
- Added IP conflict check.
- Fixed bunch of bugs.
- Change the default client VM RAM from 4GB to 8GB
Horizon Toolbox
Being an EUC guy myself this is one of my favorites. The Horizon Toolbox adds some very good tools for servicedesk and operations employees.
Changelog
2017 Nov 30
- Add a new “Export” button to the clients table
