In my last post we finished our VMware VCSA 6.5 installation. Before I teach you how to add an ESXi host to VMware vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA) 6.5, I will explain the difference between adding a host to a datacenter object and to a cluster object. Jan 23, 2018 Reset ESXi 6.5 evaluation. Your host is back with fresh evaluation license and you have another 60 days of testing. You can also automate this procedure and create single shell script that will be executed by CRON every 59 days so you will never run out of the trial period. Please be aware that this approach is only for evaluation purposes.
I own VMware Essentials license (6 CPU's)
One of the hosts is going to be replaced with a new one. I am having trouble removing/changing the license on that host.
As you can see on the image: the option to select the evaluation mode is grayed out for me.
How can I release that license?
EDIT: Removing the HOST from the VCenter - did not release the license for the CPU's. I want to point, that if I disconnect the server I CAN add a 3rd host to VCenter.
The new host is added to the VCenter - with evaluation key. But I can only see 1 CPU license available.
Is this somehow related to the changes that were done in the licensing scheme of VMWare Essentials?
VSphere editions
-- # of licenses is wrong
Saariko
SaarikoSaariko92599 gold badges4040 silver badges6969 bronze badges
4 Answers
Disconnect the server and replace the server with a new host...
Or you can simply remove the host from the vCenter setup. E.g. disconnect the host from your centralized management. That will release the license.
It's possible that the number of available CPU's is NOT the correct number.
Saariko92599 gold badges4040 silver badges6969 bronze badges
ewwhiteewwhite176k8080 gold badges380380 silver badges734734 bronze badges
Remove the host from vCenter. This will 'remove' the license from that host and make it available for your new host.
joeqwertyjoeqwerty97.8k44 gold badges6868 silver badges149149 bronze badges
On vCenter Server Appliance 5.5, SSH into your Appliance and restart the VMware VirtualCenter Server Service AFTER removing the hosts. The licenses will then become available to reallocate.
Here is a link to a KB discussing the services:
Tony MagroneTony Magrone
Enter the host into maintenance mode and remove from vCenter inventory, refresh (i'm using web client 6.0 U2) then select the (new) host -> Manage -> Licensing, license is now available.
ArtArt