The vSphere Client is a Windows-only application that allows for connecting directly to an ESX/ESXi host or to a vCenter Server installation. The only difference in the tools used is that connecting directly to an ESX/ESXi host requires authentication with a user account that exists on that specific host, while connecting to a vCenter Server installation relies on Windows users for authentication. Additionally, some features of the vSphere Client—such as initiating VMotion, for example—are available when connecting to a vCenter Server installation.

You can install the vSphere Client as part of a vCenter Server installation or with the vCenter Server installation media. However, the easiest installation method is to simply connect to the Web Access page of an ESX/ESXi host or vCenter Server and choose to install the application right from the web page.