Can't assign license to VMware ESXi 5.0 Hosts

[Syairus]

Dear All,

I have installed vCenter Server 5.0 standard on IBM x3550 M4 and VMware ESXi 5.0 Standard for both IBM x3650 M4 servers. I can assign vCenter Server 5 Standard license to vCenter Server 5.0 but I can’t assign VMware vSphere 5 Standard licenses for both ESXi 5.0 servers. Each server have 2x6Cores 2.3GHz CPU (12 cores in total). The VMware vSphere 5 licenses that we purchase are VMware vSphere 5 Standard for 1 processor (VS5-STD-C) x 12, which is unlimited cores per CPU. Can someone tell me what is wrong here and the reason why I still can’t assign license to both ESXi 5.0 hosts.

Rgds,

Syairus

[peetz]

You can only assign one license key to a host, but a key for just 1 CPU is not sufficient for a host that has 2 CPUs.

So you need to combine the 12x 1-CPU-keys into 6x 2-CPU-keys or fewer instances of more-CPU-keys. You can even combine all 12 keys into a single 12-CPU-key and use that for all your hosts (although you really only need 4 CPUs for your 2 hosts).

The required manipulations of license keys can be done on the my.vmware.com portal using the VMware account that these licenses were registered to. If in doubt ask your reseller on how to handle this.

- Andreas

[a_p_ · Accepted solution]

If I understand you correctly you have 12 licenses for 1 CPU each!? In order to assign a license to a host the CPU capacity of the license has to be equal or greater than the CPU count of the host. You can combine the licenses in the My VMware portal.

Btw. for two host with 2 CPUs each, you only need 4 CPU licenses (not 12), as the CPUs/sockets are licensed, not the cores.

André

[Syairus]

Yup. You are right. I have 12 licenses for 1 CPU each. So, according to your explanation, I only need 4 CPU licenses instead of 12. But how to combine 2 licenses to become one licenses for 2 CPU as what I understand from Peetz explanation, I can only assign one license key to a host.

[a_p_]

What you will do is to select "Combine licenses" in you My VMware Portal, then select 4 of the 1CPU licenses and combine them to a 4CPU license. Add this license key to vCenter Server and start assigning the license to the hosts. vCenter Server will subtract the 2CPU licenses for each host from this key.

André

[Syairus]

Can I select all (12) licenses and combine them to a 12CPU license?

[a_p_]

Yes, you can!

André

[Syairus]

Great. Thanks a lot for your kind assistance.

[Syairus]

Hi Andreas,

Thanks a lot for your prompt reply and assistance. Really appreciate it.