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