ESXi + VC licensing question.

[natmorris]

Hi,

We currently have 6 ESX 3.5 servers and VC server, we've started using standalone ESXi hosts for some dev/testing. I'd like to get the ESXi hosts added to VC so we can manage them from a single location.

Struggling to find out what licenses I need to buy, could I buy "vSphere Essentials" to allow me to add 3 ESXi boxes (each have 2 CPU's)?

Have included details on what we are licensed for below.

Thanks!

Nat,

License	Count
VC Management Server	1
VMotion	12
VC Agent for ESX Server	12
VC Foundation Management Server	1
VMware HA	12
VMware DRS	12
ESX Server Enterprise/Standard	12
VMware Consolidated Backup	12

[weinstein5]

Welcome to the Forums - ESX Essentials will not help because the license limits you to 3 hots to be managed by vCenter - you will need to buy 6 Enterprise licenses so they can all be managed by a single VC erver - but I would confirm with VMware directly - and unless you are planning to move to vSphere you will have to downgrade the new licenses -

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