VMware has released the vSphere Client for iPad, with which IT staff will be able to monitor and manage their virtualized infrastructure, the company said on Thursday.

The tablet application doesn't come with all the management features currently available on the desktop client. It has been designed from the ground up for Apple's iPad and is "optimized for viewing and managing your vSphere environment on the go", according to VMware.

Originally, the application was supposed to arrive at the end of last year.

VSphere Client for iPad is free, and can be used to search for and monitor the performance of vSphere hosts and virtual machines.

Administrators can also start, stop and suspend virtual machines or view and restore snapshots of them. Hosts can be rebooted or put into maintenance mode, VMware writes on a website dedicated to the product. The website also features videos to help guide users through the installation process. The client only comes with community support, according to VMware.

For vSphere Client for iPad to work, companies first have to install a virtual appliance called vCenter Mobile Access on one of their servers, and connect the servers to be managed to it. Traffic between the iPad and the appliance is encrypted to improve security.

The client already seems to be a hit with VMware users. At about 11 a.m. Central European Time, vSphere Client for iPad was the fourth most-popular application in the Business category in the App Store. The most popular application was Citrix's Receiver client followed by VMware's View Client for iPad, which was released last week. Both applications are used to access virtual Windows desktops.

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