Generating a virtual machine's remote console URL

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

This article provides steps to generate a URL that allows you to access a virtual machine console.

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 6.0.x
VMware vCenter Server 6.7.x
VMware vCenter Server 6.5.x
VMware vCenter Server 7.0.x

Resolution

In vSphere, you can use the Generate Virtual Machine Shortcut feature to create a URL. For more information, see Create a VMware Remote Console Desktop Shortcut section in the vSphere web access administrator guide. In vSphere 5.x and above the Generate Virtual Machine Shortcut feature is not available.

 

To generate a URL link in vSphere you must verify that :

• The Client Integration Plugin is installed in your web browser.
• The virtual machine has a guest operating system and VMware Tools are installed.
• The virtual machine is powered on.

To generate the URL link:

1. Log in to the vCenter Server using the vCenter Server Web Client.
2. Select the datacenter, folder, cluster, resource pool, host or vApp and click the Related Objects tab.
3. Select the virtual machine for which you want to generate a URL.
4. Click the Summary tab for the virtual machine.
5. Click Launch Console.
   
   Note: The virtual machine console opens in a new tab of the web browser, which contains the URL.
    
6. Copy and paste the URL into a web browser, then authenticate the vCenter Server upon login.
   
   Note: You require permissions on at least the virtual machine level.

 

Workaround:
Alternatively use VMRC  for smooth and easy access. 

1. Identify the VM's MOID by navigating to the VM object in the vCenter UI left hand side inventory panel. 
2. When you click on the VM object, the URL will change. In the URL, there will be a section similar to:

?extensionId=vsphere.core.vm.summary&objectId=urn:vmomi:VirtualMachine:vm-531

Here the VM's MOID is: vm-531
 

3. Copy and paste the below URL into a web browser, and replace <vCenterFQDN-or-IP> and <VM MOB ID> as appropriate,

vmrc://<vCenterFQDN-or-IP>/?moid=<VM MOB ID>

Example:
vmrc://vcenter.domain.local/?moid=vm-531
 

Additional Information

Opening the URL for a virtual machine console in a web browser fails with the error: null
仮想マシンの Remote Console URL の生成
生成虚拟机远程控制台 URL