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    <title>topic Re: 3 Hosts, 5 VMs, VMWare Essentials License in VMware vSphere™ Discussions</title>
    <link>https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-vSphere-Discussions/3-Hosts-5-VMs-VMWare-Essentials-License/m-p/2924917#M43224</link>
    <description>&lt;P&gt;&amp;gt;&amp;gt;&amp;gt; I read that with a cluster, vcenter manages itself and stays available as long as there is a host available.&lt;BR /&gt;That may be true for vSphere clusters with shared storage, and appropriate licensing/features (e.g. DRS), but not for Essentials with local storage. I usually patch/upgrade such small customer environments using the &lt;EM&gt;esxcli&lt;/EM&gt; command line utility.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Without shared storage, and vMotion (i.e. Essentials Plus, or better), I don't see much benefit in putting the hosts in a cluster. One benefit could be a simpler backup configuration (in case you're using VM based backup), but with only a few VMs that's not a huge benefit.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;André&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/P&gt;</description>
    <pubDate>Sat, 20 Aug 2022 15:18:39 GMT</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>a_p_</dc:creator>
    <dc:date>2022-08-20T15:18:39Z</dc:date>
    <item>
      <title>3 Hosts, 5 VMs, VMWare Essentials License</title>
      <link>https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-vSphere-Discussions/3-Hosts-5-VMs-VMWare-Essentials-License/m-p/2924908#M43220</link>
      <description>&lt;P&gt;Greetings, and thank you for taking the time to read about my issue.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;P&gt;I have created and managed multiple VMWare environments, mostly pretty small. The Company I work for now was using a single server for all functions, and to support a home-built ERP system built on MS Access that is critical to our operation.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;P&gt;I purchased 2 new Dell hosts, converted the existing DC to a VM, and added 2 new Windows Server VMs to spread out the load and increase the number of critical failure points. I installed ESXI on the 3rd host, mostly so I had a place to run test VMs without affecting performance of the other 2 hosts. I licensed using 7.0 Essentials (not plus) due to budget constraints. Up to here, I am sure I did the right thing and we are healthier and more resilient as a result.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;P&gt;Now, a year later, managing updates and monitoring performance is time consuming, but not too bad. I am up to 5 VMs, and the workload is relatively balanced.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;P&gt;Here is my question. I am considering putting these 3 hosts in a Cluster. My understanding is that this will allow the hosts to see each other's storage. Is there any other compelling reason to bother with a cluster? I won't have HA or VMotion because of the Essentials license. Should I bother?&lt;/P&gt;&lt;P&gt;Thank you again for your time. Have a great day.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;P&gt;Greg&lt;/P&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 20 Aug 2022 14:23:45 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-vSphere-Discussions/3-Hosts-5-VMs-VMWare-Essentials-License/m-p/2924908#M43220</guid>
      <dc:creator>GHMitchell</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2022-08-20T14:23:45Z</dc:date>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: 3 Hosts, 5 VMs, VMWare Essentials License</title>
      <link>https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-vSphere-Discussions/3-Hosts-5-VMs-VMWare-Essentials-License/m-p/2924909#M43221</link>
      <description>&lt;P&gt;&amp;gt;&amp;gt;&amp;gt; My understanding is that this will allow the hosts to see each other's storage. &lt;BR /&gt;No, the ESXi hosts won't be able to see nor access the other hosts' local storage.&lt;BR /&gt;What is it, that do you want to achieve?&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;André&lt;/P&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 20 Aug 2022 14:42:18 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-vSphere-Discussions/3-Hosts-5-VMs-VMWare-Essentials-License/m-p/2924909#M43221</guid>
      <dc:creator>a_p_</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2022-08-20T14:42:18Z</dc:date>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: 3 Hosts, 5 VMs, VMWare Essentials License</title>
      <link>https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-vSphere-Discussions/3-Hosts-5-VMs-VMWare-Essentials-License/m-p/2924910#M43222</link>
      <description>&lt;P&gt;Hi Andre, and thank you for your reply.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;P&gt;I am trying to simplify applying patches and upgrades to the hosts. Without a cluster, I am forced to upgrade the hosts separately, and I have to move the Vcenter vm around while putting each host in maintenance mode. I read that with a cluster, vcenter manages itself and stays available as long as there is a host available. I could be wrong about that.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;P&gt;Maybe it would be more helpful if I asked the question a different way.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;P&gt;In a VMWare Essentials environment with 3 hosts and 5 total VMs, is there any compelling reason to put the hosts in a cluster?&lt;/P&gt;&lt;P&gt;Thank you again for giving up some of your Saturday for this. Have a great weekend Andre.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;P&gt;Greg&lt;/P&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 20 Aug 2022 14:51:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-vSphere-Discussions/3-Hosts-5-VMs-VMWare-Essentials-License/m-p/2924910#M43222</guid>
      <dc:creator>GHMitchell</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2022-08-20T14:51:56Z</dc:date>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: 3 Hosts, 5 VMs, VMWare Essentials License</title>
      <link>https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-vSphere-Discussions/3-Hosts-5-VMs-VMWare-Essentials-License/m-p/2924917#M43224</link>
      <description>&lt;P&gt;&amp;gt;&amp;gt;&amp;gt; I read that with a cluster, vcenter manages itself and stays available as long as there is a host available.&lt;BR /&gt;That may be true for vSphere clusters with shared storage, and appropriate licensing/features (e.g. DRS), but not for Essentials with local storage. I usually patch/upgrade such small customer environments using the &lt;EM&gt;esxcli&lt;/EM&gt; command line utility.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;Without shared storage, and vMotion (i.e. Essentials Plus, or better), I don't see much benefit in putting the hosts in a cluster. One benefit could be a simpler backup configuration (in case you're using VM based backup), but with only a few VMs that's not a huge benefit.&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;André&lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/P&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 20 Aug 2022 15:18:39 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-vSphere-Discussions/3-Hosts-5-VMs-VMWare-Essentials-License/m-p/2924917#M43224</guid>
      <dc:creator>a_p_</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2022-08-20T15:18:39Z</dc:date>
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