VMware Cloud Community
Raofu
Contributor
Contributor

VMware Licensing

Hi

Could anyone please help me understanding vmware licensing? Few years back I have used VMware ESXi 4.1 and it was free for certain VMware features. It used to suggest me to get license for additional features for instance DRS, vMotion, HA, CLuster etc.

I have not been able to obtain such an image now.

Could you please help?

Thanks

Rafiqul

8 Replies
Nithy07cs055
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

This should be helpful for you ,

http://www.vmware.com/products/vsphere/compare.html

it has comparison between all products and its editions

Thanks and Regards, Nithyanathan R Please follow my page and Blog for more updates. Blog : https://communities.vmware.com/blogs/Nithyanathan Twitter @Nithy55 Facebook Vmware page : https://www.facebook.com/Virtualizationworld
Reply
0 Kudos
Raofu
Contributor
Contributor

Thanks Nithy07cs055Nithy07cs055. It does not say anything about free version features!!!

Reply
0 Kudos
Nithy07cs055
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

you will get every features in evaluation mode

"

Evaluation mode licenses are available by default for every asset. While in evaluation mode, you can explore all the features of the product that is associated with the asset.

When you install an asset, its default license is evaluation mode. Evaluation mode licenses expire after 60 days. If you assign a license key to the asset before its evaluation period expires, the time available in the evaluation period is decreased by the time already used. To explore the entire set of features that are available for an asset, you can set it back to evaluation mode, and use it for the remaining evaluation period."

but once the license expires , you will not able able to perform some task ,

Thanks and Regards, Nithyanathan R Please follow my page and Blog for more updates. Blog : https://communities.vmware.com/blogs/Nithyanathan Twitter @Nithy55 Facebook Vmware page : https://www.facebook.com/Virtualizationworld
karthikelango
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Reply
0 Kudos
Raofu
Contributor
Contributor

Thanks Nithyanathan

You have mentioned some tasks are not possible to perform once evaluation period expires. Could you please refer me to VMware statement for the list of tasks that can be performed even after evaluation period is expired?

Thanks

raofu

Reply
0 Kudos
brunofernandez1

there are two versions of esxi:

the free version and the paid version.

the free version has a lot of limitations:

https://www.virten.net/2015/03/free-esxi-6-0-how-to-download-and-get-license-keys-features-and-limit...

nice features like HA, DRS, FT, Vmotion, Clustering and so on are also only available with the paid version because of the vCenter has to be licensed.

The vCenter is a must have to use this features. without vcenter they dont work.

on page 5 you find all the possible license models: http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/products/vsphere/VMware-vSphere-Pricing-Whitepaper.pdf

------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you found this or any other answer helpful, please consider to award points. (use Correct or Helpful buttons) Regards from Switzerland, B. Fernandez http://vpxa.info/
Raofu
Contributor
Contributor

HI Fernandez

Thanks for your help.

the free version has a lot of limitations:

https://www.virten.net/2015/03/free-esxi-6-0-how-to-download-and-get-license-keys-features-and-limit...

Link gives a lot of information, however nowhere vmware is saying this. If there is a vmware state then I could convince my CTO.


Thanks

npadmani
Virtuoso
Virtuoso

Here's the official VMware KB, listing everything that you need, starting from vSphere free hypervisor to vSphere Enterprise Plus

VMware KB: Product offerings for vSphere 6.x

I am sure this would help to convince your management.

Narendra Padmani VCIX6-DCV | VCIX7-CMA | VCI | TOGAF 9 Certified
Reply
0 Kudos