vCenter Server Appliance shows vSphere Web Client as running before it is available

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

If you turn off the vSphere Web Client and restart it, the vCenter Server Appliance immediately shows that the vSphere Web Client is running. In the Summary section of the vCenter Server tab, under Services, the vSphere Web Client is shown as Running, with the corresponding Stop button, before the vSphere Web Client has completely loaded. If you try to use the vSphere Web Client at this point, you might see a blank page, or an error message stating that the browser is unable to connect, or that the requested resource is not available.

 

This problem might also occur when you deploy the vCenter Server Appliance, after you run the vCenter Server setup wizard.

Environment

VMware vSphere Web Client 5.1.x
VMware vCenter Server 5.1.x
VMware vCenter Server Appliance 5.1.x

Resolution

This is because the vCenter Server Appliance reports the services are started, however it can take a few minutes for services to be fully initialized and available for use.

Wait a minute or so and then refresh the vSphere Web Client browser window, once the services are available you will see the Web Client loading. You may have to wait again and refresh the window more than once to see the client load.