Is there a license fee to upgrade ESXi 5.0 to 5.1?

[DDub10]

Current Hardware

2 of the following server, 1 Production, 1 Backup (w/ VEEAM Solution)

HP PROLIANT DL380 G7

Processor  Intel Xeon Dual 6 Core X5690 3.5ghz

RAM   64GB

Native Controller: HP Smart Array P410i

Add on RAID Controller: Areca  ARC-1882

vCenter 5.0 as Hypervisor Manager with

15 VMs currently employed

Got clearance to acquire  a new production server and employ ESXi 6.5. I wanted to first to upgrade our current version of ESXi with the most recent one that would not incur additional changes. Will likely go the latest generation of DL380. Another question I had was whether I could maintain the same backup server without upgrading to the latest ESXi and still use VEEAM as the Backup/ Replication solution..

Soooo, anyways the Subject list is actually the main question!   Along with advice on the best path to do so.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Dwayne

[Dave_the_Wave · Accepted solution]

Unless corrected otherwise, it is my understanding that n.x licenses work across the board.

5.0 licenses should work for all 5.x builds of ESXi, like 5.5

6.0 licenses should work for all 6.x builds of ESXi, like 6.5, 6.7.

This may help your upgrade to 6.5:

https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/sim/interop_matrix.php#upgrade&solution=1

[DDub10]

Thanks so Much for the Response Mr the_Wave

I hope what you gathered about the N.x is the case. I'll review the Matrix and follow through.

Thanks a lot.

[IRIX201110141]

Stop.... the OP mentioned vCenter which means in the past there was a license and also Subscription or Support and Subscription. Its the subscription which gives your the right to upgrade your version to a newer one. If you havent renewal your SnS the journey stops there. It doesnt matter if the license key have changed ot not. Your not allowed to update your vCenter/Host.

You can alwayes renew your SnS... also the years you have missed but it depends on the number of years and your vsphere editions. Speaking of vSphere 5.0 it means your SnS ends maybe more than 4 years ago and than its cheaper to buy new licenses.

Regards,

Joerg

[DDub10]

HI IRIX,

I'm just now seeing youre response. I which I had checked in earlier. I attempted the 5.0 to 5.5 upgrade (starting with vCenter) yesterday and had issues at the vCenter install. I researched that it was best to upgrade vCenter first.  I went with the simple install option, installing all components successfully but it didn't allow my license key when it got to the vCenter install.

It also did not allow me to use the evaluation version. I cant remember the msg but it didn't appear compatible

After a restart fortunately the old vCenter vSphere client still worked (whew!)

SO right now my vCenter includes some of the 5.5 components.

Do you know the best way to dig out of this one and get 5.5 upgrade done. Thanks!

[IRIX201110141]

Well.....  please can you go and log into your MyVMware account and please tell me

- Which vSphere edition you have exactly

- Fetch your lics from the portal. You should see at least to difference license keys. One Instance of vCenter Essentials? and maybe 6x 1CPU vSphere ESXi Essentials

- Try to upgrade your lics. You have to choose "Upgade" from the upper left dropdown menu and than mark all checkboxes for the folders on the left. Tell me if you see upgradable keys

You may have mixed your vcenter and esxi lics and tried to use the esxi lic for vcenter install which, of course, wont work.

Depends on your answers i can come up with an action plan. But please.... i worked with this kind of stuff for more than 10 years now, but that doesnt mean that i can rember to all the different behaviours for every single version. Its starts with FlexLM license server, vMem Tax, Editions like Advanced, and with a vCenter on Linux Beta.

Regards,

Joerg