I thought ESXi 5 was free? Vsphere counting down evaluation days.

[moneymm]

I am using vSphere Client to access my esxi 5 server and VMs.  Is ESXi 5 Free, is the Vsphere Client free?  if vsphere client isnt free, then how do I access my server and VMs for free?

[MagnetBoy]

Hello moneymm!

VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi (5.0) is free.

vSphere Client is free also.

this is the link to download the free hypervisor: https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/info/slug/datacenter_cloud_infrastructure/vmware_vsphere_hypervisor...

once you install it then you use your browser to connect to the host and download the vSphere client from it!

:smileyplain:

[moneymm]

I did all of that.  however, I am left with a countdown of my 60 day evaluation in Vsphere client.... 

I have a key for  VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi (5.0) from vmware, i just have no idea where to put it.

[MagnetBoy]

give me a few minutes, i am going to setup a quick lab with my vmware workstation.

[weinstein5]

Did you register with VMware and Download the free license file? -- By default ESXi will install in evaluation and give you 60 days before you have to license it either by buying a license or registering with VMware and downloading the free license key - instruction are on the site where you obtained the software -

[moneymm]

Yes i registered with vmware.

Component	License Keys
VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5 License	0xxx83-F231J-18xxx-02xxP-xxxxxx

Version History - VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.0

Your free trial downloads are available below.

ESXi 5.0 Installable (CD ISO)

2011-08-24 | 5.0.0 | 291 MB | Binary (.iso)

thats what i downloaded and insatlled.  I also installed vsphere client from webrowser when i accessed my new server for the first time.

[moneymm]

basically i think i just need to know where exactly in vsphere client i put this license key i hav for esxi 5.

[MagnetBoy · Accepted solution]

1. connect to the host using vSphere Client
   
2. Select host
   
3. configuration tab
   
4. click on "Licensed Features" under Software section
   
5. click "edit" on the right uper corner
   
6. select "assign a new license key to this host"
   
7. click "enter key"
   
8. ...
   
9. click ok
   
10. done!
    

I just did it in the test hypervisor i created in my vmware workstation!

Message was edited by: MagnetBoy

[weinstein5]

In vSphere client select your host and if you look on the right side of teh screen you will see a set of tabs - select the configuration tab - on the left side the wil be an option for lincing - this where you will be able to add the license key - 

[macpiano]

This brought me back to the paid version. What do I get with the paid version of ESXi and Vsphere? I am paying for it.

[MagnetBoy]

Check this link:

http://www.vmware.com/products/vsphere/buy/editions_comparison.html

Vcenter foundation: manage up to 3 hosts

Vcenter standard: unlimited host management

FJER

[macpiano]

I knew what I got in Standard and since I have 5 hosts and will be going to 10 that makes me feel better. lol

I still don't like the ram licensing because my goal is to have 96 each so I would have to buy another whole ESXi client to get the extra ram as it is totaled across the whole VShpere