vCenter Version Build Number and vSphere Client version mismatches

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vCenter Server 7.0
• VMware vCenter Server 8.0

Issue/Introduction

The version on the vSphere Client UI and the Build number on the vCenter are different. 

• For Example:
                                                                     
  vSphere UI version is 7.0.3.00700  :         vCenter Server 7.0 Update 3f    7.0.3.00700    2022-07-12    20051473    20051473
  vCenter Build Number is: vCenter Server 7.0 Update 3f   7.0 Update 3h    7.0.3.01000    2022-09-13    20395099    20395099
• Same for vCenter 8.0.x

• After upgrading or patching vCenter Server to a new release, you may notice different version numbers displayed in the VAMI and the vSphere Client under the "About VMware vSphere" tab.
• On vCenter Server's VAMI https://<VC_FQDN>:5480 summary page:

 

• When looking on vSphere Client under the "About VMware vSphere" tab, we do see a different version of vCenter Server  

Environment

 

 

Cause

The vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA) comprises two main sets of services:

1. Core Server Services: These manage the overall vSphere infrastructure, including hosts, VMs, storage, and networking.
2. Authentication Services: These handle identity management, such as SSO (Single Sign-On), which integrates with Active Directory or other identity providers.

Among the Core Server Services, the vSphere Client stands out as a web-based HTML5 interface for connecting to and managing vSphere instances. It's essential to note the following:

• The vCenter version and build number represent the appliance itself, including all its internal components.
• The vSphere Client version and build number, however, are specific to the web-based interface and can differ from the vCenter version.

This difference is expected behavior, not a bug, for two main reasons:

1. The vSphere Client is an independent component, and its updates do not always align with vCenter Server releases.
2. The Client Package doesn't always receive new code with every release. This ensures that minor or unrelated vCenter updates do not unnecessarily affect the client interface.

By decoupling these components, VMware ensures greater flexibility and stability in managing and updating the vSphere environment.

Resolution

The vCenter Build number and vSphere Client UI refer to 2 different components.

The details that you see in VAMI and the console indicate the version of the vCenter Server, however, the vSphere Client is just a component that facilitates the web console. If there is no change done in the previous package of the vSphere Client, the minor version will remain unchanged in the later release as well. It will be changed only if there is a major version update or any change in the individual package.

To check the version on vCenter 

1) From command line : 

vpxd -v

2) From the VAMI page (https://<VC_FQDN>:5480)

Summary Page: 

3) To confirm the vSphere client version, run the following command: rpm -qa | grep vsphere-ui