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AAISDept
Contributor
Contributor

vSphere Essentials Plus 7 Back to Core Limits????

Hello,

Long time customer and user of vSphere Essential Plus.  I am running 6.7U2.  Just upgraded vCenter server to v7.0 and that went very well.  I then downloaded the software and licensing for vSphere ESXi 7.0.  When I load the license in vCenter it shows that there is now a limit of 32 total cores!!!  Why are we going backwards after prior version of Essentials Plus removed the core limit?  So now I have an upgrade which I am entitled to under SnS but cannot use because I would exceed the core count, even though I am fine under 6.7.

     So while processor core counts are increasing at reasonable costs, VMware has decided to go backwards and limit the core count, even though we already have a physical socket limit already in place?  Furthermore, why remove the core count limit in a previous version only to reinstate it now and prevent me from upgrading to a product which I am entitled to with my SnS?

Thank You !

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daphnissov
Immortal
Immortal

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scott28tt
VMware Employee
VMware Employee

This is not related to the vSphere 7 release, and is what plenty of other vendors have done for years already.


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IRIX201110141
Champion
Champion

So now I have an upgrade which I am entitled to under SnS but cannot use because I would exceed the core count, even though I am fine under 6.7

You have >= 64 Core in one 2 Socket Host? (lucky guy for sure Smiley Happy)  As you told us that there is active SnS than you will be fine because you can apply for additional free licenses (Support ticket needs to be open).

Regards,
Joerg

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AAISDept
Contributor
Contributor

Thank you so much, as I had not seen that document.

However, it brings up confusion as to how this applies in Essentials Plus.  The exact wording shown on the license screen in vCenter is shown below.  Does this mean that I can have up to 32 total cores spread out over 6 CPUs (as it seems to read) or can I have up to 32 cores in each CPU?  Clarification would be greatly appreciated from VMware.  If it is indeed 32 cores per CPU then I am fine.  If it is a total of 32 cores spread over 6 CPUs then that is a major problem.

0 CPUs (up to 32 cores)

6 CPUs (up to 32 cores)

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daphnissov
Immortal
Immortal

A "CPU" is a physical socket. You can have up to 32 cores ​per CPU​. Not total, per host, across all physical CPUs.

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AAISDept
Contributor
Contributor

Thank you.  Yes I know what a CPU is.  The question was about the wording on the license screen.  It does not say "per CPU" so it can be interpreted as total.

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scott28tt
VMware Employee
VMware Employee

It would better to get the clarification you want via a more formal channel, such as: Contact Sales, Contact Support, Product Support


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Although I am a VMware employee I contribute to VMware Communities voluntarily (ie. not in any official capacity)
VMware Training & Certification blog
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a_p_
Leadership
Leadership

In all documents - including the one that's been mentioned before - VMware states that the limit is a "per CPU" limit. So no matter whether you have Essentials, Standard, or Enterprise Plus licenses, the limit per CPU is the same.

Something that I can't find, is whether it is possible to have an Essentials licensed host with more than 32 cores/CPU as long as sufficient licenses (e.g. 4 out of the 6 CPU license) are available. However, I'd guess that someone who needs such hosts will most likely not go with Essentials licensing.

André

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dolphinhuang
Contributor
Contributor

Dear All

If we have essential plus one package(with 6 socket & 3 host limit)

But the cpu one socket have 64-core

By the way, essential plus 6 socket, only can support 3 socket cpu who have on socket 64-core, Right?

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