(Limited) vSphere management using a mobile device

On the VMware Labs website you can find a free appliance that can give you limited access to the management tools available in vSphere vCenter. The appliance is called vCMA or vCenter Mobile Access.

How to install?

• Go to the vmware.com/labs website and download vCMA as a OVF. Jump to site
• Extract the zip file that contains the OVF.
• In vCenter, go File – Deploy from OVF and point to the extracted OVF file.
• Once deployed, you can start the VM.
• After the VM is started, there are 3 options to change settings
  • Using the menus on the console (to set network, timezone, login in to the command console)

    

  • Using the web interface https://vcma-host-or-ip:5480

     

    

  • Or using the command console. (use login in first screen)

     

    

    • By default the root account has as password vmware (remember the console is by default in qwerty)

Special configuration settings to thing about!

• Set the IP to a fixed address
• Enter the DNS servers
• Change the default hostname and domainname. (http://communities.vmware.com/message/1335001)
• Change the root default password using the passwd, in the command console

How to use?

• It is very easy to start using this app.
• Open a browser (on you PC or mobile device)
• Point to http:// vcma-host-or-ip/vim (the folder /vim is needed and I hope VMware will change this in a next release)
• Enter the vCenter server name and the userID and password you normally use in the vcenter.
• Now you can do some functions like
  • vMotion
  • Edit settings of a VM
  • Change Powerstates of a VM
  • Etc, install and discover.

Alternative apps you need to buy!

vManage : http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vmanage/id318737136?mt=8

iDatacenter http://nym.se/idatacenter/ (iPAD)

iVMControl : http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ivmcontrol-control-vmware/id404263941?mt=8 (iPAD, iPhone)