Can we manage (not cluster) Free ESXi 4.1 servers (with VMs on EMC CX4-960 SAN), using license for ‘VMware vCenter Server 4.0 Standard for vSphere’

[eagertolearn]

Can we manage (not cluster) Free ESXi 4.1 servers (with VMs on EMC CX4-960 SAN), using  license for ‘VMware vCenter Server 4.0 Standard for vSphere’

Per the KB article here, it sounds like we need a license for the ESXi as the vCenter Agent is not present on the free ESXi servers.

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&externalId=1018275

What is the least $ kind of license that we can buy? "low cost VMware Essentials on the ESXi hosts ($500 for 3 hosts)" ?

[weinstein5]

Welcome to the Communities - Yes you will need to purchase a license for your free ESXi hosts so that they can be managed by vCenter - I believe the eessentials will be the most cost effective -

[a_p_]

As weinstein5 said, Essentials is the cheapest edition. However it's limited to max. 3 hosts which can be managed.

André

[eagertolearn]

thank you for the quick response guys.

The whole vmware licensing seems like a maze. if the essentials is bought it seems like it comes with a pack of vCenter, so what has already been bought is a waste? (VMware vCenter Server 4.0 Standard for vSphere)

also wanted to ask, does the free esxi allow for the VMs to reside on the CX4-960 EMC SAN?

[a_p_]

also wanted to ask, does the free esxi allow for the VMs to reside on the CX4-960 EMC SAN?

Yes, there's no limitation regarding attached storage (except for configuring Jumbo frames).

André

[DSTAVERT]

The VMs can reside on the SAN. There is no restriction for that.

[weinstein5]

If you have already bought vcenter check with VMware and see if you can get credit applied for the essentials pack -

there is no prolem with the free version using the emc san