esxi 4 license

[mortetnma]

I've updgraded an esxi 3.5 to 4. Accessing the host using the vSphere client I get the following message:

*

VMware Evaluation Notice*

Your evaluation license will expire within 59 days!

*When the evaluation license expires, ESX host may stop managing all virtual machines in its inventory. In order to manage these machines you must upgrade your ESX host license.

*

The word "may" in the message makes the message un-clear.

Can someone clarify what happens after the evaluation period expires?

[AntonVZhbankov]

After license is expired you lose ability to power on VMs, but it won't affect already running VMs.

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VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[mortetnma]

thanks for your answer, but it does not really correspond the the "VMware ESXi is the easiest way to get started with virtualization-and it's free" (see )

But if you're right, then, unlike esxi 3.5, esxi 4 is not really free! That must be why people are asking to downgrade to 3.5 again (or swith to different product).

In my case, I was running a free esxi 3.5 development/test host, where I could setup, start up and dispose of virtual machines at will, for testing and development purposes for learning purposes and before implementing into production.

As I understand it, this is no longer a free option?

[AntonVZhbankov · Accepted solution]

ESXi 4 is as free as ESXi 3.5. Do not mix Evaluation and Free license.

Evaluation equals Enterprise Plus for 60 days, and you just need to enter serial number provided by VMware for free.

---

VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[TomHowarth]

As Anton has correctly stated the 60day Evaluation is for Enterprise Plus, once the Evaluation period is over, the Host will cease to allow the higher functions and the turning on of new guests, until a license in entered. this licenses can still be ther free one that you obtained for ESXi 3.5.

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Tom Howarth VCP / vExpert

VMware Communities User Moderator

Blog: www.planetvm.net

Contributing author for the upcoming book "[VMware vSphere and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and the Virtual Environment|http://my.safaribooksonline.com/9780136083214]”. Currently available on roughcuts