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The first version of VMware Server was managed using a native application and a very rudimentary browser based interface (useful only for viewing virtial virtual machine status). If a VMware Server system was to be administered from a remote client, the management application had to be installed on that client. VMware Server 2.0 moves away from from the native applicationapproach, instead providing a fully featured, browser based administration console known as the VMware Infrastructure (VI) Web Access management interface which can be accessed from remote clients simply by using a web browser. In addition to avoiding the necessity to install the native application on client systems, it also provides administrative access to a wider range of clients, including mobile devices such as the iPhone or Blackberry.
== Accessing the VI Web Access Management Interface ==
During the VMware Server 2.0 installation process the installer prompted for port numbers to be used for both HTTP and HTTPS based access to the VI Web Access interface. The defaults suggested were 8222 and 8333 respectively. If other ports were specified during installation the following examples will need to be modified to reflect the chosen ports.
In essence, VMware Server 2.0 contains its own built in web server which is used to serve the VI Web Access management interface to web browsers which request access. As such, it is worthwhile noting that the system on which VMware Server is running does not itself need to have a web server running for VI Web Access to work(although having one running will certainly not interfere with VI Web Access). When connecting locally(in other words from a web browser running on the same system as VMware Server), VI Web Access may be accessed using either an insecure HTTP or secure HTTPS connection. In the case of remote connections, however, HTTP requests will be automatically redirected to the secure HTTPS connection.
To gain access via HTTP use the following URL syntax:
* https://''hostname'':8333
where ''hostname'' is replaced either by the host name or IP address of the system on which VMware Server is running. If VMware Server is on the local machine, ''localhost'' or the ''127.0.0.1'' TCP/IP loopback address will also suffice. Upon successful connection, a screen will appear requesting the login and password credentials of an authorized administrator account as illustrated in the following figure:
The application menu contains the following options:
* <table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" id="E3B" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-color:#cccccc; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; margin-bottom:20px"><tr bgcolor="#cccccc" style="color:black" valign="top"><th><p>Menu Option</p></th><th><p>Description</p></th></tr> <tr><td>'''About''' - </td><td>Displays version, build and copyright information relating to the currently running VI Web Access interface.</td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#e9e9e6"><td>'''Enter Serial Number'''</td><td><Provides the ability to view the current, or enter a new serial number. This is of particular use if a serial number was not specified during the installation process, or if the current serial number has expired./td></tr> <tr><td>'''Virtual Appliance Marketplace'''</td><td>One advantage of the popularity of VMware Server is that there are a large number of pre-packaged virtual machines running a variety of operating systems and applications ready for download. This menu option opens the VMware Server 2.0 Virtual Appliance web page where the database of ready built, verified appliances images may be browsed and downloaded.</td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#e9e9e6"><td>'''Check for Updates'''</td><td>Opens a browser to the VMware Server 2.0 download page where details of the latest software release are listed, toegterh with a ''Download'' button. The version and build number of the latest release should be compared with the information from the ''About'' menu option to ascertain whether an upgrade is available.</td></tr> <tr><td>'''Help'''</td><td>Opens a new browser window containing extensive online help.</td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#e9e9e6"><td>'''Log out'''</td><td>Logs out of of the VI Web Access management interface and returns to the login screen.</td></tr> </table>
* '''Enter Serial Number''' - Provides the ability to view the current, or enter a new serial number. This is of particular use if a serial number was not specified during the installation process, or if the current serial number has expired.
* '''Virtual Appliance Marketplace''' - One advantage of the popularity of VMware Server is that there are a large number of pre-packaged virtual machines running a variety of operating systems and applications ready for download. This menu option opens the VMware Server 2.0 Virtual Appliance web page where the database of ready built, verified appliances images may be browsed and downloaded.
* '''Check for Updates''' - Opens a browser to the VMware Server 2.0 download page where details of the latest software release are listed, toegterh with a ''Download'' button. The version and build number of the latest release should be compared with the information from the ''About'' menu option to ascertain whether an upgrade is available.
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