ESX free or evaluation?

[technologist123]

Hi Guys

I have build up a test environment of ESX server as i do not want to play around the production ESX.

when i had downloaded the ESXi 3.5 U4 , it was clearly showing "free download" but i noticed just now after few days that my VC client shows the ESX host as the "Evaluation ( 36 days remaining) "

Is it free ? or what will happen as i got 3 VM servers running on it ?

many thanks

[Troy_Clavell · Accepted solution]

when you registered for the download, you should have been provided a license key. You will need to add that key to your licensed features and the evaluation copy will become licensed for free.

[jamesrpt]

You should have recieved a key. Just go to the configuration tab and towards the bottom you will find a section about licensing. add your key in and it will be active with the features allowed for the free esxi.

James

[weinstein5]

ESXi is free but you will need to register to obtain the license key -

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[paquay_eric]

Hello,

It's free ... to test during few days !

You've 36 days remaining, and during these you can do whatever you want, then you'll get 14 days of Grace Period, where you won't be able to add any other host to your inventory (or modify a cluster).

And after the grace period expires, everything will keep working ! BUT ... you won't be able to POWER ON any VM if you start or restart it !

Eric