As VMware evolved, the thick client became a liability:

The original (often shortened to viClient or VI Client ) was a standalone Windows application used to manage VMware vSphere (then called VMware Infrastructure 3).

While VMware's official blog is great, the community often provides the "real world" fixes. The most reliable external source for vSphere Client deep dives is .

For any modern VMware deployment, ignore the term "viClient." Point your browser to your vCenter Server and log into the .

For many admins, the viClient was beloved for its speed and reliability compared to early web-based interfaces.

Do not confuse the old "viClient" with today's . Starting with vSphere 6.5 and fully completed in vSphere 7.0, VMware rebuilt the management interface entirely in HTML5 .