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Quick Tip - Accessing new custom theme editor for ESXi 8.0 Host Client

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While looking over the vSphere 8 release notes, I had noticed there was also release notes for new version of the ESXi Embedded Host Client, which is an HTML 5 UI for accessing standalone ESXi host. The really interesting feature that stood out to me was the following:

Ability to change the user interface theme

Initially, I thought this was referring to the new "gray" theme which is the default when logging in.


I thought it was a bit strange to refer to this as being able to change user interface. What I did not realize was that the theme editor for the ESXi Host Client was actually hiding else where in the UI ... Thanks to Mark Gabbs for sharing the details!

UPDATE (10/12/22) - After publishing this blog post, I noticed a more detailed article was posted on the VMware Blog regarding the new ESXi Host Client 2, which includes even more new features such as markdown support for customizing the ESXi DCUI and Host Client login window.

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Automated vSphere & vSAN 8 Lab Deployment Script

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Continuing with the tradition of a new vSphere release, I have also released an update to my Nested ESXi Virtual Appliance to support the latest vSphere 8 release.

I know many of you are excited to get hands on experience with vSphere 8 and start exploring some of the new features and capabilities. To make it even easier to deploy, I have created an updated version of my vSphere and vSAN Lab Deployment script which you can find on my Github repo: Automated vSphere & vSAN 8 Lab Deployment Github Repo

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Using vSphere Lifecycle Manager (vLCM) API to patch group of ESXi hosts

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An interesting vSphere Lifecycle Manager (vLCM) question that has already come up a few times in the past two weeks is whether vLCM can remediate (patch/upgrade) a specific group of ESXi host(s)?

Today, there are two ways in which vLCM can remediate ESXi hosts within a vSphere Cluster. The first is to simply remediate all ESXi hosts within a vSphere Cluster using the Remediate All option.


If a user wishes to exclude specific ESXi host(s) from being remediated, then the only other option is to manually remediate each individual host. To do so, select an ESXi host from the list and then use the Remediate option in the Actions menu as shown in the screenshot below.


For a small environment, manual remediation might be okay for those willing to click through the vSphere UI but it is certainly less than ideal and you are also not taking advantage of the automation and orchestration that vLCM provides in the first place.

Luckily, there is a third option which is to use the vLCM REST API to specify the desired list of ESXi host(s) that want to patch/upgrade and best of all, this is fully automated!

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