Trying to start VMware vSphere Client on Windows 7 to connect ESX / ESXi machine or vCenter, throws two error boxes:
Could Not Connect
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Error parsing the server "vcenter.lan" "clients.xml" file.
Login will continue, contact your system administrator.
and
Error
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The type initializer for 'VirtualInfrastructure.Utils.HttpWebRequestProxy' threw an exception.
Searched VMware forums without any luck. VMware recommendation is to use XP mode.
However there is a workaround.
Fix VMware vSphere Client errors on Windows 7
Take a System.dll file from non Windows 7 machine, with latest Microsoft .net updates. Usually:
C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\System.dll
Copy it to folder Fix under vSphere installation folder, for example:
C:\Program Files\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher\FIX\
In VpxClient.exe.config file add the following tags runtime (3 lines), marked with bold:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<configuration>
<system.net>
<connectionManagement>
<clear/>
<add address="*" maxconnection="8" />
</connectionManagement>
</system.net>
<appSettings>
<add key = "protocolports" value = "https:443"/>
</appSettings>
<runtime>
<developmentMode developerInstallation="true"/>
</runtime>
</configuration>
Then create batch file (this is how you will launch vSphere Client), with the following content:
SET DEVPATH=%ProgramFiles%\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher\FIX
"%ProgramFiles%\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher\VpxClient.exe"
P.S. Of course, this is not an official workaround, but it works for me on Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit version (System.dll was copied from Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit). Use it at your own risk.