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mickyp100
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Can ESXi free version support for VMs startup/shutdown configuration through vSphere Client?

I read and survey some documents about ESXi.

According to documents, I know ESXi free version doesn't support some advanced configuration of VMs and doesn't support the write permission to ESXi host. But when I download ESXi from vmware.com, I can't find the free version. It always be a evaluation edition of licensed version because I always can do setup the VMs startup/shutdown configuration through vSphere Client. I also can execute pl scripts (from lamw) in vMA to shutdown the ESXi host (write permission ok?!)

So I confused. How can I get the truly free version of ESXi? Or it will be free version after 60 days of evaluation?

The startup/shutdown configuration I mention above is in vSphere Client through “Configuration” --> “Virtual Machine Startup/Shutdown” --> “Properties…” --> “Allow virtual machines to start and stop automatically with the system” setting and shutdown actions of VMs can be configured to "to “Guest Shutdown” or “Suspend”. Does any body can tell me if this is support by ESXi free edition?

Is the vSphere Client free version too? Because when I use the vSphere Client, it told me I have 60 days of evaluation. This confuse me again. I think vSphere Client is always free, am I right?

Any suggestion or advice is very appreciated. _

Micky

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lamw
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VMs startup/shutdown configuration is available with both the free and licensed version, with the free version you would just configured everything via the vSphere Client, where as with a licensed version, you can potentially use scripts to configure this and also issue reboot/shutdowns using scripts.

Secondly, , this script will work in both free and licensed because it uses direct SOAP calls emulating the vSphere Client communication. Take a look at the documentation for more details but this of course is not supported by VMware.

=========================================================================

William Lam

VMware vExpert 2009

VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at:

Twitter: @lamw

VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators

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lamw
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When you download ESXi, you should have been prompted to register and if you do so, you'll get a "free" license emailed to you. If not, you can go through the download process again and you can request for a license.

If you just download ESXi and start using it, you're automatically using the 60 day eval license which provides you full access as if you were fully licensed, hence you can use scripts that perform both read and write operations. Once the eval period is over or if you apply the "free" license, these functionalitys will be disabled.

Regarding your auto start manager question, yes you can configured this using both licensed and free version of ESXi, so long as you're issuing the shutdown using the vSphere Client, which in turn should follow the rules configured for your VMs.

=========================================================================

William Lam

VMware vExpert 2009

VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at:

Twitter: @lamw

VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators

VMware Developer Community

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".

mickyp100
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Thank you, lamw.

After applying the free license key to ESXi host, the evaluation warning doesn't show again.

I connect to ESXi host with vSphere Client, then I go to "Configuration" --> "Virtual Machine Startup/Shutdown" --> "Properties..." found it is still configurable.

But I read the online information about ESXi said ESXi free version doesn't support the VMs startup/shutdown configuration. Is there something wrong? Or just I get the wrong information from somewhere (I forgot where to get this memory) ?! The correct answer for it is ESXi support VMs startup/shutdown configuration through vSphere Client even if ESXi is a free version, am I right?

The script to call host shutdown for ESXi free version is also workable if I use the lamw's shutdownHostViaSOAPAPICall.pl script, am I right? ( I just ask first to confirm, I will try it when I have time after work days )

If all questions I asked were get the positive answer, can anybody tell me where to get this information from official documents or articles on internet?

Thanks again : )

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lamw
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VMs startup/shutdown configuration is available with both the free and licensed version, with the free version you would just configured everything via the vSphere Client, where as with a licensed version, you can potentially use scripts to configure this and also issue reboot/shutdowns using scripts.

Secondly, , this script will work in both free and licensed because it uses direct SOAP calls emulating the vSphere Client communication. Take a look at the documentation for more details but this of course is not supported by VMware.

=========================================================================

William Lam

VMware vExpert 2009

VMware ESX/ESXi scripts and resources at:

Twitter: @lamw

VMware Code Central - Scripts/Sample code for Developers and Administrators

VMware Developer Community

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".

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JanNawara
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You can get your VM's to startup and shutdown automatically with the host server. You have to use the "Move Up" and "Move Down" buttons to place the VM in either the Automatic Startup section or the Any Order section on the "Virtual Machine Startup and Shutdown" screen.

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mickyp100
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It did solve my question and also clear my understanding of ESXi free version.

Thanks.

Micky

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