Our ESX servers that command worked fine on, it was only the ESXi servers we recently setup to replace VMware Server boxes that we had issues from command line.

My concern is how the fix is going to be delivered. If a host reboot is required for patch install and maintenance mode is not available, then we'll need to power down all of our VMs. I'm really, really hoping we can disable NTP, roll back our clocks, go into maint mode, then install the update.

<RANT>

I knew something like this was going to happen, sooner or later. The first time I laid eyes on that blasted License Server, the first thought I had was "Single Point of Failure." Worse, it is a SPF whose as-designed failure mode is to shut everything down!

I wonder what bean-counter thought this one up. VMware's engineering department better get busy, because I guarantee that after this there won't be a single Fortune 1000 firm that will tolerate their silly License Server within their IT infrastructure.

I know I won't.

</RANT>

(And yes; I feel a bit better now.)