vRealize Infrastructure Navigator: Simple Guide

vRealize Infrastructure Navigator is also known as VIN, it is a tool made by VMware, it helps you find what applications run inside virtual machines, it also shows how these applications talk to each other, this is called application discovery and dependency mapping NS Mainframe

VIN was used by many VMware teams, it helped with planning security troubleshooting and audits, even today many people still search for information about VIN, this is because it was a helpful tool for older datacenters

What VIN Does

VIN helps you see what runs in your virtual machines, it finds services and ports and network traffic inside your VMware environment, it shows how one virtual machine depends on another, this makes it easy to understand complex systems

VIN solves these problems

Hard to see how applications are connected

Hard to plan changes

Hard to avoid outages

Hard to prepare for audits

Hard to fix problems fast

Where VIN was used

vSphere

vCenter

vRealize Suite

NSX environments

VIN appeared inside the vSphere Web Client, this made it simple for admins to use

Main Features of VIN

VIN has several important features, these features help teams understand their applications

Application Discovery

VIN finds information inside each virtual machine
It detects the operating system
It detects services
It detects ports and protocols
It detects common apps like databases and web servers
It does this without extra agents

Dependency Mapping

VIN creates a live map of how apps talk to each other
It shows traffic between servers
It shows upstream links
It shows downstream links
It shows multi tier application paths

Real Time Updates

VIN updates maps as things change
If a service starts or stops VIN sees it
If a VM is removed VIN updates the map
This keeps information fresh

vCenter Integration

VIN appears inside the vSphere Web Client
You can open a VM and see its dependencies
You can open a cluster and see all services
The interface is simple and clear

Reporting

VIN can export maps and lists
This helps with audits and documentation

How VIN Works

VIN has a clear architecture, the parts work together to collect and display data

VIN Architecture

How VIN finds information

VIN uses three main methods

Guest introspection
It looks inside the guest OS through VMware Tools, it finds running processes

Network flow inspection
It checks open ports, it checks active connections

Service fingerprints
It detects known apps like Apache or SQL Server, it matches patterns to identify services

How maps are built

VIN finds services

VIN watches traffic

VIN detects connections

VIN creates a map

VIN updates the map all the time

VIN Use Cases

VIN was helpful in many areas of IT operations

Use Cases

Migration Planning

VIN shows which systems depend on each other
This helps you avoid broken apps after a move

Disaster Recovery

VIN shows the order of recovery
It helps build better SRM plans

Security and Segmentation

VIN maps help NSX teams
They can build safe firewall rules
They can understand real traffic paths

Troubleshooting

VIN makes problem solving faster
You can see upstream and downstream systems in seconds

Compliance

VIN makes clear system maps
Auditors can see every service and connection

Installing VIN

Many teams still run VIN in older setups, here is the simple install flow

Requirements

Supported vSphere version

Supported vCenter version

VMware Tools installed in VMs

Valid license

Install Steps

Import the OVA into vSphere

Configure the VIN appliance

Power it on

Connect VIN to vCenter

Register the plugin

Start discovery

View maps in the Web Client

Daily Use of VIN

VIN is simple to use after setup

Main Views

Application Services

Application Dependencies

What you can do

See service lists

See dependency maps

Filter results

Export data

Custom Services

If VIN does not detect a service you can add it manually, this creates better maps

Scaling Tips

Scan in small groups

Update VMware Tools

Review unknown services often

VIN Integrations

VIN works with other VMware tools.

Integrations

NSX

VIN maps help build micro segmentation, they show real traffic paths

vRealize Operations

VIN adds clarity to performance data
You see which systems connect to each other

vRealize Automation

VIN makes blueprints more accurate
It shows which parts belong to each app

Site Recovery Manager

VIN helps define correct recovery order
It ensures no system is forgotten

VIN End of Life and New Options

VIN is now deprecated
VMware recommends newer tools

Modern VMware tools

Aria Operations for Applications

Aria Operations for Networks

VMware Cloud tools

Third party mapping tools

Moving away from vrealize infrastructure navigator

You can export maps from VIN
Then you can import or rebuild them in new tools
This keeps your documentation accurate

Best Practices for VIN Style Mapping

Even though vrealize infrastructure navigator is deprecated the ideas still matter

Best Practices

Scan in small steps

Use tags and naming rules

Review services often

Use maps for better security

Use maps for better planning

Frequently Asked Questions

What is vRealize Infrastructure Navigator?

It is a VMware tool that finds applications running inside virtual machines, it also shows how these applications talk to each other

Does vrealize infrastructure navigator need agents?

No, VIN uses VMware Tools to see inside virtual machines, you do not install extra software inside the guest OS

Can vrealize infrastructure navigator help with migrations?

Yes, VIN shows which virtual machines depend on each other, this helps you move the right systems at the right time

Is vrealize infrastructure navigator still supported?

No, VIN is now deprecated, VMware recommends using modern tools like Aria Operations and Aria Operations for Networks

Can vrealize infrastructure navigator help with security?

Yes, VIN shows real traffic paths, this helps you build safe firewall rules, it also helps with micro segmentation

Does vrealize infrastructure navigator help with troubleshooting?

Yes, VIN shows all related systems, it helps you find the cause of a problem faster

Where do I see vrealize infrastructure navigator maps?

You see VIN maps inside the vSphere Web Client, you can open a VM and view its application dependencies

Why is vrealize infrastructure navigator important?

VIN makes complex systems easy to understand, it helps with planning security audits and problem solving

Conclusion

vRealize Infrastructure Navigator was a helpful tool for VMware environments, it discovered applications inside virtual machines, it created clear maps that showed how systems worked together, this made it easy to plan changes and avoid outages, it also supported security work and disaster recovery