How to preserve the Datastore Permanently in Evaluation version?

[johnabraham]

Hi

I am running an Evaluation version of ESXi5.0.0 (VMKernel Release  Build 469512), so can i update it to the latest version either online or offline to keep it compartible with all latest products & for better compartibility?

If i run out of Evaluation period means when it exceeds 60 days. I have to reinstall it. so when reinstalling is there any option to preserve all the previous data in the datastore?

thanks

[a_p_]

As of ESXi 5 the interactive installer (CD installation) provides options to install with or without preserving VMFS datastores. However, you don't need to reinstall after 60 days, you can just enter a license key.

André