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drtv
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Using a VMware vSphere 6 license to activate a fresh install of Version 7.0

Hello guys, 

 

I am from Germany, so please mind my Englisch. 

I am running Vmware on a USBdrive. After 1.5 years I wanted to restart my server. Suddenly I relalised that my usbdrive is broken.

So fare no problem. I downloaded the latest version of vmware for my server and installed it. 

I mounted the vms and they run properly. 

 

BUT I can't activate version 7 with my 6. license. 

 

Is there a way to do so? If possible I don'T want to reinstall 6.7 and the activate and the upgrade to 7.0

Do you have any suggestions. 

THANKS a lot. 

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e_espinel
Virtuoso
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Hello.
If the licenses you have acquired is of the classic type, these never expire, they are perpetual.. But about two years ago VMware started to sell licenses with 1 and 3 years expiration date.


You should have registered your licenses on the official VMware site, ¨My vmware¨. Log in with the same user you registered the licenses with and see if they are active.
https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/home

If your licenses are active, you can upgrade your licenses to version 7.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z20LSDluGz0

 

Together with the licenses you acquire a SnS (Software and Subscription) contract, this is what expires. This contract is usually for 1 or 3 years. The SnS contract grants rights for updates and support with VMware.

The 6 licenses are technically for versions 6.0, 6.5 and 6.7.

If your SnS contract expired, you can consult with a VMware partner in your country and ask for a quote to renew it, but the renewal fee includes a fee for all the time it was not valid and a penalty.

 

 

 

Enrique Espinel
Senior Technical Support on IBM, Lenovo, Veeam Backup and VMware vSphere.
VSP-SV, VTSP-SV, VTSP-HCI, VTSP
Please mark my comment as Correct Answer or assign Kudos if my answer was helpful to you, Thank you.
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5 Replies
pkvmw
VMware Employee
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Hi,

as you correctly noticed, ESXi 7.0 requires a new license key and a ESXi 6.x license key does not work. When you upgrade an activated ESXi 6.x installation, the license key will be removed and the ESXi will continue in evaluation mode. So in any way, you either need to stick with ESXi 6.x or get a new license key for ESXi 7.0.

Regards,
Patrik

e_espinel
Virtuoso
Virtuoso
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Hello.
Another option is to get a Free license, with limitations.
It requires user and password in My VMware, registration is free.

VMware vSphere Hypervisor 7

https://my.vmware.com/en/web/vmware/evalcenter?p=free-esxi7

 

VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.7

https://my.vmware.com/en/web/vmware/evalcenter?p=free-esxi6

 

 

Enrique Espinel
Senior Technical Support on IBM, Lenovo, Veeam Backup and VMware vSphere.
VSP-SV, VTSP-SV, VTSP-HCI, VTSP
Please mark my comment as Correct Answer or assign Kudos if my answer was helpful to you, Thank you.
Пожалуйста, отметьте мой комментарий как Правильный ответ или поставьте Кудо, если мой ответ был вам полезен, Спасибо.
drtv
Contributor
Contributor
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Hello and thank you for the answers so far. 

So let me get this right: 

 

1.5 Years ago I bought a 3 years Licence for esxi 6 (800 Euro). 

 

Know I want to upgrade it and the only option is to buy once again a license for 800 Euro, or downgrade to ESXi 6.X?

Unfortunately I thought I could just purchase an update. 

Thanks.

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e_espinel
Virtuoso
Virtuoso
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Hello.
If the licenses you have acquired is of the classic type, these never expire, they are perpetual.. But about two years ago VMware started to sell licenses with 1 and 3 years expiration date.


You should have registered your licenses on the official VMware site, ¨My vmware¨. Log in with the same user you registered the licenses with and see if they are active.
https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/home

If your licenses are active, you can upgrade your licenses to version 7.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z20LSDluGz0

 

Together with the licenses you acquire a SnS (Software and Subscription) contract, this is what expires. This contract is usually for 1 or 3 years. The SnS contract grants rights for updates and support with VMware.

The 6 licenses are technically for versions 6.0, 6.5 and 6.7.

If your SnS contract expired, you can consult with a VMware partner in your country and ask for a quote to renew it, but the renewal fee includes a fee for all the time it was not valid and a penalty.

 

 

 

Enrique Espinel
Senior Technical Support on IBM, Lenovo, Veeam Backup and VMware vSphere.
VSP-SV, VTSP-SV, VTSP-HCI, VTSP
Please mark my comment as Correct Answer or assign Kudos if my answer was helpful to you, Thank you.
Пожалуйста, отметьте мой комментарий как Правильный ответ или поставьте Кудо, если мой ответ был вам полезен, Спасибо.
drtv
Contributor
Contributor
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Thank you so much. 

 

My problem was that I didn't know how to upgrade my license. 

In the contract viewer you have to click on the license, then you have to get to the drop down menu "upgrade", then you have to checkbox the license you want to update, then you have to click update. 

 

The steps to make weren't so obvious for me, so it took me a hard time to figure them out. But right now everything works fine. 

Thanks to all 

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