DerekShaw
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Enthusiast

how to get esxi 4.1 license to be accepted on newly-reinstalled host (OEM HP Proliant)

I have just spent the day recovering from two failed disks in two arrays on one elderly HP proliant ml350 g5

It looks like this was deployed with HP-installed esxi 3.x (based on the HP packaging where the USB key used to be), and later upgraded to 4.1.  It's a very small install -- the esxi is running stand-alone.

As part of the process of recovering the arrays I (accidentally) erased the usb stick in the box that hosts the esxi install.  So I pulled out the the HP CDs, and instead of the HP-branded esxi 3.x (like on the label of the box), there was a home-burned esxi CD labelled as 4.1 (which matched what was running on the box before the problem arose).  So I installed from the CD, got all the VM's running again, ghettoVCB (re-)scheduled via crontab and then went to apply the license.

The branded HP box has a certificate (with barcode) showing I have "permission to use" esxi, but no key.  The 4.1 key that I have used elsewhere is not accepted in the "Assign License" dialogue.

So - where do I go to fix this?  Do I need a key from HP? if so, what do I ask for?  My experience of dealing with HP for something like this are less favourable than dealing with the electrical-power monopoly, so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

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