vRealize Infrastructure Navigator

vRealize Infrastructure Navigator: Simple Guide

ByAlex Morgan

vRealize Infrastructure Navigator In every data center, many applications and servers work together. When one server is changed or moved, it can affect other servers. To avoid problems, administrators need to know how all parts are connected Securly Pass

vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) was a VMware tool made for this purpose. It helped teams see which applications were running on virtual machines and how they connected with each other.

This article explains VIN in simple words, with clear lists and tables.

What is vRealize Infrastructure Navigator?

  • VIN was a software tool made by VMware.

  • It worked inside vCenter as a plug-in.

  • It was deployed as a virtual appliance (OVA file).

  • It discovered applications and services on virtual machines.

  • It showed dependency maps inside the vSphere Web Client.

Why vRealize Infrastructure Navigator Was Useful

VIN made IT operations easier and safer.

Main Benefits

  • Change planning: Showed which servers depended on each other before upgrades.

  • Migration planning: Helped teams move servers without missing connections.

  • Disaster recovery: Allowed grouping of applications for failover.

  • Auditing: Recorded which services were active on each machine.

Key Features

VIN had many features to support administrators.

  • Automatic discovery of services and applications.

  • Dependency maps that updated over time.

  • Continuous monitoring of server changes.

  • Easy integration with vCenter.

  • Visual dashboards in the Web Client.

Architecture

VIN worked as part of the VMware ecosystem.

Components

  • VIN Appliance: Deployed in vSphere as a virtual machine.

  • Web Client Plug-In: Displayed VIN features in vCenter.

  • Discovery Engine: Found services, applications, and connections.

  • Data Collection Layer: Communicated with ESXi hosts and guest VMs.

How It Worked

  1. The VIN appliance was deployed in vSphere.

  2. It connected to vCenter.

  3. It collected data from virtual machines.

  4. It displayed results as maps in the Web Client.

Requirements

Admins needed to prepare the environment before installation.

Prerequisites

  • Supported versions of vSphere and vCenter.

  • Enough CPU, RAM, and disk space for the appliance.

  • Proper network settings (DNS, IP, NTP).

  • User accounts with the correct permissions.

Ports and Networking

VIN used specific network ports to function.

Port Protocol Purpose
902 TCP Communication with ESXi and VMs
2868 TCP Plug-in registration and download
6969 TCP Web Client communication

Deployment Steps

The installation process followed a simple flow.

Setup Process

  1. Import the VIN OVA file into vSphere.

  2. Configure IP address, DNS, and NTP.

  3. Register the appliance with vCenter.

  4. Apply the license key (if required).

  5. Enable discovery on clusters or VMs.

Application Discovery

VIN was able to find and recognize many applications.

Discovery Steps

  • Scanned guest OS using VMware Tools.

  • Found open ports and active services.

  • Identified known applications (e.g., databases, web servers).

  • Updated maps when services changed.

User Interface

VIN added new features to the vSphere Web Client.

Main Views

  • Application Services Tab: Showed services detected on a VM.

  • Dependency Map: Displayed how servers and applications were connected.

  • Filters: Allowed focus on certain services.

  • Snapshots: Saved maps for documentation.

Daily Operations

Administrators used VIN regularly to keep track of their environment.

Common Tasks

  • Expanding or limiting discovery scope.

  • Reviewing application maps.

  • Tagging or naming applications.

  • Monitoring VIN appliance status.

  • Backing up and upgrading VIN.

Integration with VMware Tools

VIN data could be used in other VMware products.

Integration Benefits

  • Application-aware dashboards.

  • Grouping resources by discovered applications.

  • Better planning for capacity and monitoring.

Use Cases

VIN supported many real-world IT tasks.

Key Scenarios

  • Data center migration: Ensured all dependencies were known before moving.

  • Disaster recovery: Helped plan which servers should failover together.

  • Change control: Checked dependencies before patching.

  • Audit reports: Provided proof of running applications and services.

Security Notes

VIN was designed to work safely without making changes inside VMs.

Security Practices

  • Use accounts with limited rights.

  • Keep VIN appliance updated.

  • Monitor logs for discovery results.

  • Limit access to maps for authorized staff.

Troubleshooting

Sometimes VIN needed fixes during operation.

Common Issues and Fixes vRealize Infrastructure Navigator

  • VIN not registering with vCenter: Check DNS and SSL settings.

  • No services detected: Verify VMware Tools inside the VM.

  • Permission errors: Make sure correct roles are assigned.

  • Blocked communication: Ensure ports 902, 2868, and 6969 are open.

Limitations vRealize Infrastructure Navigator

VIN had some limits even when working well.

Known Issues

  • Could not detect every type of application.

  • Custom services might show as “unknown.”

  • Large maps could become complex.

  • Worked only with vSphere environments.

Lifecycle Information vRealize Infrastructure Navigator

VIN was retired after several years of use.

End of Support

  • End of Distribution: September 26, 2017.

  • No further downloads were available.

  • Support ended at the same time.

Roles and Responsibilities vRealize Infrastructure Navigator

Several IT teams worked with VIN.

Role Task
vSphere Admins Install and manage VIN appliance
Application Owners Check discovered applications
Network Teams Confirm firewall rules
Security Teams Review logs and protect maps

Documentation Tips vRealize Infrastructure Navigator

Admins often kept supporting records for VIN.

Useful Documents vRealize Infrastructure Navigator

  • Installation checklist.

  • Change notes for discovery scope.

  • Exported application maps.

  • Troubleshooting runbooks.

Glossary vRealize Infrastructure Navigator

  • Application Map: Visual chart of services and servers.

  • Dependency: Connection between two servers or services.

  • Service: A running process like a web server or database.

  • Scope: The range of VMs or clusters included in discovery.

FAQs

What is vRealize Infrastructure Navigator?

vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) was a VMware tool that discovered applications and services inside virtual machines and created maps of their connections.

What was the main use of vRealize Infrastructure Navigator?

Its main use was to help administrators understand application dependencies for planning, migration, disaster recovery, and audits.

How did vRealize Infrastructure Navigator work?

It was deployed as a virtual appliance, connected to vCenter, and used VMware Tools to scan VMs. It then displayed dependency maps in the vSphere Web Client.

What were the key features of vRealize Infrastructure Navigator?

Key features included automatic application discovery, dependency mapping, continuous monitoring, integration with vCenter, and visual dashboards.

What ports were required for vRealize Infrastructure Navigator?

VIN required TCP ports 902, 2868, and 6969 for communication with ESXi hosts, plug-in registration, and Web Client functions.

Conclusion

vRealize Infrastructure Navigator was a VMware tool for discovering and mapping applications inside virtual environments.

It provided:

  • Automatic application discovery.

  • Visual maps of dependencies.

  • Support for migration, disaster recovery, and audits.

  • Safe operation with read-only methods.

Although VIN is no longer supported, it showed the importance of visibility and awareness in managing modern IT environments.

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