I am trying to connect to my ESX server using the vSphere client tunneled over SSH. I have done this in the past, but it isn't working now. I am fwding the appropriate ports (443, 902, 903) and have made the appropriate "hosts" file entry, as well. When I try to connect, I get the expected certificate error, and when i dismiss it I get a dialog saying that I need to download the "required client support files", and of course I can't download them from the vsphereclient.vmware.com site while I'm tunneled. I am confused about why I am getting this message, since I can connect to the ESX server using the installed version of vSphere if I do so directly (i.e., without an SSH tunnel).
Any thoughts? I am in urgent need of remotely administering my VMs, so any help would be most appreciated.