August 10, 2025

vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) for VMware

vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) is part of the VMware environment. It creates a virtual sphere where applications run through automation and intelligence software.

The advanced VMware vRealize Infrastructure Navigator improves software efficiency and decreases downtime.

The last known release of vRealize Infrastructure Navigator was 5.8.7. It was released with the vCenter Operations Management Suite.

VMware has retired VIN to move to more advanced technologies. The modern VIN alternatives offer better functionality and reliability in a virtual environment.

Here is everything about VMware’s vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN).

vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) for VMware

vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN):

What is VIN?

If you are new to VMware, then you may ask this question.

The traditional VMware users are familiar with the vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) and its features.

VIN is a free-to-use VMware plugin to activate application awareness on virtual servers. It makes communication between machines and applications possible. Complex and multi-functional systems run the system with ease.

It works from the vCenter server. VIN corresponds between machines, applications, and services.

The VIN application uses Apache Tomcat and SQL to build dependencies. VIN uses these dependencies to plan, recover, and troubleshoot.

vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) Features:

vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) Features

vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) in VMware provides automated discovery, dependency mapping, real-time monitoring, easy integration, impact analysis, and policy implementation.

Here are the notable features of vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN):

Automation:

Automation is why VIN is required in VMware. It automates the process of application discovery on virtual machines.

VMware ports with applications like Apache Tomcat and SQL Server offer better deployment solutions.

Mapping:

VIN is known for its dependencies mapping features.

It provides real-time mapping of ports and applications.

The comprehensive display of dependency mapping helps in identifying the essential and non-essential dependencies.

Monitoring:

Real-time monitoring is necessary to run modern virtual applications.

It analyzes the performance of VMware tools in real time.

Health checks of virtual apps are necessary to prevent failure or errors.

Integration:

vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) quickly integrates with VMware tools.

It works effectively with vRealize Operations Manager and vSphere Web Client.

It is easy to install VIN in Management Pack for vRealize Infrastructure Navigator.

Grouping:

VIN allows server admins to create VM groups. These groups work as tiers within the virtual machine.

Impact Analysis:

vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) is an excellent impact analysis tool.

You can analyze the impact of virtual machine migration, dependencies, and risk assessment.

Benefits of vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN):

Benefits of vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN)

Here are the benefits of VIN in a VMware environment:

Visibility:

VIN identifies the application processing between hundreds of virtual machines.

It discovers which server is functional and responds to applications and databases.

Change Management:

VIN ensures minimal disruption of services during upgradation or migration. 

It uses change management to decrease the amount of disruption.

Disaster Recovery solution:

VIN offers disaster recovery planning to restore applications to their correct state during any mishap.

Reduce Downtime:

Downtime is the big issue in front of server-side services. VIN mapping helps in reducing downtime by identifying affected applications.

Resource Distribution:

VIN distributes resources for their optimum use. It optimizes the use of memory, CPU, GPU, storage, and I/O devices.

Network Security:

VIN is powered by network audit security. It scans ports and applications to secure virtual networks.

How Does vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) Work?

vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) scans the VMware environment to analyze the network traffic.

It also tracks the ports used between applications.

  • Web Server: VIN detects the web server based on the port number.
  • Database Server: VIN detects the database server based on the port number.

First, VIN discovers applications such as web servers and database servers.

Next, it generates a dependencies map.

You can access this map through vSphere Web Client.

System Requirements to Deploy vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN):

  • vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) 5.8.7
  • System Requirements, 4 GB Ram, 2 vCPUs
  • vCenter Server Version 5.1 UI or higher
  • Browsers Chrome and Firefox
  • vSphere Web Client
  • Valid license

How to Install vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN)?

  • Download Latest VIN: Download the latest vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) file from the VMware official website.
  • Deploy the OVA: Use the vSphere Web Client to deploy the OVA.
  • Configure: Configure the virtual machine and set up the network.
  • Connect to vCenter.
  • Apply License
  • Verify Discovery.

vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) Alternatives:

vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) Alternatives

VIN is not the only VMware tool. There are many other VMware applications that offer similar features and benefits.

vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) Alternatives:

SolarWinds Virtualization Manager:

SolarWinds provides VMware features like dependency mapping and performance analytics.

It also helps with impact management.

You can use it with a license.

Microsoft SCVMM:

Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager is a powerful tool for virtual machines.

It is the best tool to use within the Microsoft System Center suite.

You can use it with Azure.

Nutanix Prism:

It is based on the Nutanix Cloud Platform.

It offers a control panel to manage and monitor virtual machine infrastructure.

You can use it for computing, networking, and storage.

Dynatrace:

Dynatrace is more than a VMware tool. It works as a software intelligence tool. It offers real-time performance insights.

vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) Limitations:

No Support:

VIN stopped providing support. It is not available for new users anymore.

  • Vulnerable: Due to lack of support, VIN became vulnerable to new threats.
  • Static: VIN’s static nature caused its dependencies to lose value with time.

Conclusion:

vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) remained one of the most popular VMware management applications for users.

It was part of vSphere and installed on vRealize Center.

VIN has impacted the vRealize Operations for compliance and change management.

It was VIN’s limitations that forced its users to shift to its alternatives.

vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) FAQs:

What is the latest version of vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN)?

Vin 5.8.7 is the latest version of vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN).

How to get support for VIN?

Is there not support available for VIN?

Should I Use VIN?

No. As there is no support available. It is best to choose vRealize Infrastructure Navigator (VIN) alternatives.

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