Can I install a vCenter without a license in my ESXi lab?

[SPRWSBrad]

Can I install a vCenter without a license in my ESXi lab?

I have hardware available since I migrated to our ESXi Enterprise SAN and want to create a lab. I have a couple of questions:

1) Can I install a vCenter without a license in my ESXi lab or am can I only use vSphere to connect to my 2 lab ESXi hosts?

2) Can I create a clustered environment even though I'm running ESXi Free version to mimic my Production of ESXi Enterprise connected to a SAN?

Thanks.

[memaad · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Yes,  you can install vCenter without license, since it will run for 60 days evaluation. I free ESXI host cannot  be managed by vCenter, so it will not mimic your production setup http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=101827...

Regards

MOhammed

[SPRWSBrad]

Hello Memaad,

I do not want to rebuild a lab every 60 days so I know I can run ESXi Free on my host with limited CPU-Memory/32GB  etc.. but vCenter will expire? OK. Do you have any suggestions for my lab that I can keep intact?

Question #2, Is it possible to cluster just using vShpere? I doubt it but have to ask.

[memaad]

Hi,

WIth regards to vCEnter, you can check this, I am not sure whether this is free or not, 

https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/details?dlg=vc50&baseCode=dHRAYnQldEBiZHBqcA#open_source

With regards to cluster ESXI, you need vCenter.

Regards

Mohammed

[Sundararajan]

Obliviously you can use evaluation version with full futures upto 60 days. If you are going for free license its applicable only for host not for the vC.