Trouble adding unlicensed ESX 3.5 host to vCenter

[InverseofNeo]

Right now, I have a licensed vCenter Server 4 with two vSphere hosts. Eveything is working on that end. I would like to add an ESX 3.5 host that is in evaluation mode. According to this document (http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsp_4_legacy_host_lic.pdf), it is unclear if this is supported.

Is it absolutely necessary for the legacy host to be licensed in order to be able to add it and manage it via my vCenter Server? If is it not necessary, please tell me how to add it. Currently when I try to add it, I get an error about the License Server, but obviously I have no license file or license server for the ESX 3.5 host.

Thank you very much.

[athlon_crazy]

Yes, you need license server to be installed first (not necessarily on the vCenter) before you can add ESX 3.5 hosts. Haven't try yet whether we can use eval license at this license server.

http://downloads.vmware.com/d/info/datacenter_downloads/vmware_infrastructure_3/3_5#drivers_tools

vcbMC-1.0.6 Beta

vcbMC-1.0.7 Lite

http://www.no-x.org

[InverseofNeo]

Thanks for the reply. At first I was confused because for some reason I thought the License Server I needed was for vCenter not ESX 3.5, but I was wrong. I downloaded and tried to install it on the same machine as my vCenter. However, during installation it is asking me to point to a license file. Since vCenter doesn't use license files nor does the ESX 3.5 host have a license, I don't have a license file to point to. I know this isnt really the place for this question but it is related to the topic.

[athlon_crazy]

Go to your ESX 3.5 and look for eval license under (/etc/vmware/vmware.lic). Hopefully you can use it with your license server.

vcbMC-1.0.6 Beta

vcbMC-1.0.7 Lite

http://www.no-x.org

[InverseofNeo]

There is no license file at (/etc/vmware). I have looked to see if there is a .lic file located in the subdirectories of vmware but there is none.

[athlon_crazy]

Weird! perhaps Eval don't use vmware.lic.

Another method, if you still have Virtual Center 2.5 installer, try install it on temporary system. This installation should use come together with eval license (vmware.lic) and VMware License server. After that, configure license for your ESX 3.5 by pointing that host to this license server (Don't add host to vCenter 2.5). Then, configure License server information at your vCenter 4 (vCenter Setting). Finally try add your 3.5 host to vCenter 4. I never try before but this workaround should work I think.

vcbMC-1.0.6 Beta

vcbMC-1.0.7 Lite

http://www.no-x.org