Unable to add license key after ESXi 4.0 upgrade

[Schnizzle]

All

AFTER a successful upgrade from ESXi 3.5 to ESXi 4.0. I am unable to add my free basic features license key. Prior to the upgrade i was NOT in evaluation mode, I had already entered the license key for the basic version of esxi 3.5 several months ago and things have been just fine. Now, after the 4.0 upgrade, I am back in evaluation mode - only now I am unable to enter a license key anywhere. If I go to Configuration tab > Software > Licensed Features, it says: Evaluation Mode and then if i click on Edit - my options are: Rename, Remove and Client Settings, with the first two options being greyed out and unavailable. I have the ESXi 4.0 key that I received when I downloaded 4.0 but I just can't enter it anywhere to get out of evaluaion mode!

Any ideas?

Thanks,

[dab]

I didn't see this before, can you post a screenshot?

Daniel

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[AntonVZhbankov]

You need to upgrade VI Client to vSphere Client. You'll still be able to manage 3.5 hosts with it.

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VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[Sreejesh_D]

After upgrade host will be in evaluation mode, its expected. To license the host with the 4.0 license key, you have to connect the host with vSphere Client 4.0. You can download it from the host throgh webaccess (https://<hostname>).

Regards,

Sreejesh

[davver]

you need to go to your vcenter. Choose in the menu "administration" en choose "vcenter server settings"

The first item is "licensing". You can assign new keys over here.

[Schnizzle]

Okay, I think there's some confusion on my situation, let me explain this again so it's clear:

1. My environment consists of a single HP DL360 running VMWARE ESXi - the FREE version, no bells, no whistles.

2. To Manage the ESXi server, I have the VMware client installed on a workstation, from the workstation I connect to the ESXi server to manage it.

3. Until yesterday, I had been running ESXi 3.5, it was licensed (not in eval mode) and everything was fine.

4. I decided to upgrade to ESXi 4.0 so I downloaded the ESXi 4.0 upgrade ZIP file and the VSphere client.

5. I backed up my VM's by downloading the VM files to a local workstation hard drive.

6. I Upgraded my workstation vmware client by installing the VSphere client.

7. I then put the ESXi 3.5 HOST in maintenance mode

8. I Used the VSphere client on the workstation to upgrade the ESXi host & browsed to the ESXi 4.0 upgrade zip file and ran the upgrade process.

9. The ESX Host server rebooted twice during the process and the upgrade completed successfully.

10. I connected to the ESXi Host via the VSphere Client on the workstation and everything looked good Except I am now back in evaluation mode and cannot seem to find where I can enter the ESXi 4.0 free license key to get out of evaluation mode. Attached is a few screenshots.

11. I have also clicked on Home > Administration but all that is listed here is Roles and it is greyed out.

thanks all,

[AntonVZhbankov · Accepted solution]

There is another "Edit" you should click on.

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VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[davver]

On the right you see edit:

(see screenshot attached)

Regards,

Davy

[Schnizzle]

Ok, I see it now......I was looking at the EDIT on the toolbar, I didn't see the edit on the far-right. I've now entered the key successfully and am out of eval mode.

Thanks Anton!

The scary part is that I just had my eyes checked and they said everything was fine!!! :smileyshocked:

Thanks all

[AntonVZhbankov]

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VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru