Web Interface for ESXi without vCenter

Hmm....OK....I downloaded the ESXi 6 Hypervisor and installed it in VMWare Workstation 11.  ( You can download the trial here.  You may have to register with VMWare if you already have not.  https://my.vmware.com/en/web/vmware/info/slug/datacenter_cloud_infrastructure/vmware_vsphere/6_0)

Now, how do I access the web based user interface to manage the standalone ESXi host?

It’s now possible to manage standalone ESXi hosts with not only the Windows vSphere Client or vCenter, but with a web interface for ESXi 

Installing it over the Internet

1. Enable SSH.  (In DCUI, Press F2 -Customize System/View Logs ->Troubleshooting Options->Enable SSH)
2. SSH into your ESXi host
3. Run the command
   
   
   

   1	esxcli software vib install -v http://download3.vmware.com/software/vmw-tools/esxui/esxui_signed.vib

Installing it from a local file

1. Download the VIB file
2. SSH into your ESXi host
3. Copy the VIB file to /tmp/
4. Run the command
   
   
   

   1	esxcli software vib install -v /tmp/esxui_signed.vib

   
   Making sure you include the full path name to the file or else installation will fail

If the VIB installation completes successfully, you should now be able to navigate a web browser to https://<esxip>/ui and the login page should be displayed.

Login with your usually ESXi credentials and try it out.