Replacing vSphere 4 advanced licenses

[alando]

Hi

I am pretty new to VMWare and have an issue concerning licenses, hopefully someone can explain this to me:

I have to replace the two current licenses running on my cluster as of our partner made a mistake and introduced to many licenses into the cluster. We have to run 2 systems with VMWare vsphere as of one of them has to be validated, so I have to get 4 of those 12 CPU licenses out of the cluster.

I found the following KB for dividing the two licenses I already have into the 2x4 licenses and 2x2 licenses (at the moment I have 2x6 CPU licenses):

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=ex&bbid=TSEBB_1284057580...

Now in which order I have to insert them into the current cluster? Can I insert them as the cluster is still running and then remove the currently installed licenses to avoid the cluster to go offline or do I have to put them in maintenance mode? Or how is this usually done?

Thank you all for your help and hints.

[Mouhamad · Accepted solution]

Hello,

You don't need to go into maintenance mode, just assign a new license to each host, one by one. Then you can delete the unassigned licenses if not needed.

Regards,

[alando]

So nothing is going to happen if I divide the licenses? Just insert the new ones and delete the old ones afterwards?

[AndreTheGiant]

Insert new licenses, assign them, then delete the oldest.

Andre

[Mouhamad]

Exactly, go ahead.

[alando]

OK, thanks for all your replies, this maintenance window should not be any problem.