vSphere Essentials split license 6x1 CPU instead of 3x2 CPU ?

[pmcq]

Does anyone know if it is still possible to split the cpu licenses like you could in ESX 3.5. Vmware Essentials licence allows 3 hosts with 2 sockets ( 3 x 2 sockets ). Could you split this license onto 6 single socket servers ( 6x1 sockets ) or one quad socket server and one dual socket server ( 1x4 and 1x 2 sockets)?

[Troy_Clavell]

If you look at your license portal, the licensing has moved to single CPU, and you can divide the license keys.

Is this what you are asking?

[pmcq]

vSphere standard, advanced and enterprise licences are all per cpu and easy to understand. The essentials license is different . It states you can run 3 dual socket servers. I was wondering if there was any sort of flexibility in this license. Would it be possible to run 6 single socket servers instaead of three dual socket servers. This could be done under ESX 3.5 as the license was essentially per socket. Please see Vmware's policy on single socket servers here. http://www.vmware.com/download/eula/single_processor.html

quote "VMware is clarifying that a two processor license may now be split and used on two single-processor physical hosts." I guess I want to know if this policy is still valid with the vSphere Essentials license..

[Troy_Clavell]

I don't quite understand the licensing around vSphere4 yet either. So, I don't want to push you in the wrong direction. We have our TAM coming in on Monday, maybe I'll understand better then.

Maybe someone else on the forums or VMware will be able to answer your question with 100% certainty.

[mcwill]

I think your problem in running 6 x 1cpu hosts would be the Essentials vCenter Server, this like the Foundation vCenter Server, is limited to 3 physical hosts.

Regards,

Iain

[pmcq]

That's a good point about Essentials vCenter Server. I wish somebody from Vmware would clarify this license issue or update their policy statement at http://www.vmware.com/download/eula/single_processor.html. I am still confused about this.

[AsherN]

At this point, I'd be careful aroud Essentials lienses. I've had support confirm that there is no possibl e upgrade path out of Essentials. I'm till waiting for an answer as to whether the standard vCenter will be able to manage Essentials servers or not. As well, whether the upcoming update to SRM will be compatible with Essentials.

So far the wording of the docs leads me to believe that Essentials is a dead-end product only to be used in single location, never more than three hosts shops. I'd love to be proven wrong.

[admin]

vCenter Server Essentials is limited to 3 managed hosts. You can run single-socket or dual-socket as you prefer but it's 3 hosts, no more. If you want to manage more than 3 hosts in the same vCenter Server you need to buy vCenter Server Standard and vSphere Standard or higher.

Managing hosts licensed as vSphere Essentials or Essentials Plus from a vCenter Server Standard is a violation of the EULA.

As far as splitting the keys on the portal, there is no need to do that. Just take your 6-CPU Essentials key and assign it to all 3 hosts. The product supports this and it's intended to simplify your license management by having fewer keys around.

I hope this clarifies things a bit.

[AsherN]

tjensen wrote:

Managing hosts licensed as vSphere Essentials or Essentials Plus from a vCenter Server Standard is a violation of the EULA.

That does not appear to be true.

I've been exchanging e-mails with VI-Hotline and this is one of the subject.

I asked:

understanding that there is no upgrade path, if I had 3 hosts under an Essentials license and added a 4th host using a standard license, would a full version of vCentre be able to manage all 4 hosts?

and the answer was:

Yes, you will be able to manage Essentials as well as Standard using vCenter Server 4.0.

So it appears the vCenter Standard can manage hosts licensed under any licensing schemes.

[admin]

Unfortunately vi-hotline gave you the wrong answer. It appears to be a failure of training (there's a lot of new material for our frontline support to internalize) but I will get that corrected. Thank you for pointing it out to us and I apologize for the misleading advice.

[AsherN]

OK, so you guys are creating a nightmare for your customers, more so for the new ones that are still at the decision phase. The entire Essentials dead-end scheme, combined with not being able to get answers is making me lean away from VMWare again.

I had 2 simple questions, asked them a few times and I can't get an answer. The first one you answered, and I can live with that. The second is simply a statement of directions. Will SRM be compatible with Essentials?

[admin]

Sorry, I did not notice your question regarding SRM. I will get an answer for you, just let me check with the right folks internally.

[admin]

Dear AsherN:

VMware vSphere Essentials and VMware vSphere Essentials Plus are all inclusive packages.

VMware vCenter Server for Essentials (can manage up to 3 hosts) is integrated into the vSphere Essentials packages

vSphere Essential packages shouldnt be mixed and managed via VMware vCenter Standard edition.

SRM is currently not compatible with Essentials however, we will release updated information as soon as it becomes available to us.

VMware-GSS,

VMware Communities User Moderator

[horace_ng]

Seems I cannot manage vSphere Essentials with vCenter Standard. How about VI3 Foundation Host with vCenter Standard? Is that a violation of EULA?

[TomHowarth · Accepted solution]

What you are attempting to do us perfectly legal and above board. just because it state on the essentials web page 3 x 2 dual CPU machines, does not mean it is limited to this. you could for example have 1 x dual CPU and 1 x Quad CPU.

However your limitation will come with vCenter that option is limited to 3 hosts. personally I would like to see this option changed to a processor based option too. for me Essentials is too limited and the lack of a upgrade path from essentials to Advanced or Enterprise Plus is a major defect. what happens when your farm grows beyond 3 nodes. your entire investment in ESX to date has to be trashed (from a licesnsing perspective) and completely new licenses purchased.

If you found this or any other answer useful please consider the use of the Helpful or correct buttons to award points

Tom Howarth VCP / vExpert

VMware Communities User Moderator

Blog: www.planetvm.net

Contributing author for the upcoming book "[VMware vSphere and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and the Virtual Environment|http://my.safaribooksonline.com/9780136083214]”. Currently available on roughcuts

[AsherN]

I wouldn't be so sure. Essentials is a different fish. And vCentre Essentials can only admin 3 hosts, and Essentials hosts can not be administered by vCentre Standard.

[TomHowarth]

Er did I not state that in my post above (copied below). the Limitation with Essentials is with vSphere not the ESX portion.

However your limitation will come with vCenter that option is limited to 3 hosts. personally I would like to see this option changed to a processor based option too. for me Essentials is too limited and the lack of a upgrade path from essentials to Advanced or Enterprise Plus is a major defect. what happens when your farm grows beyond 3 nodes. Your entire investment in ESX to date has to be trashed (from a licesnsing perspective) and completely new Licenses purchased.

If you found this or any other answer useful please consider the use of the Helpful or correct buttons to award points

Tom Howarth VCP / vExpert

VMware Communities User Moderator

Blog: www.planetvm.net

Contributing author for the upcoming book "[VMware vSphere and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and the Virtual Environment|http://my.safaribooksonline.com/9780136083214]”. Currently available on roughcuts

[Ryan2]

Essentials is a VERY basic set of features for a VERY basic price point... You get what you pay for. Ultimately, I would never push a client towards it unless they were considering using it for dev/lab purposes. If you see a need for additional nodes and flexibility down the road, then go standard out of the gates. You can easily upgrade ESX Standard and vCenter Foundation to accomodate changes in your environment, while still bringing in VMware at a minimal price point.

[TomHowarth]

Agreed, to me Essensials is a product looking for a problem, but causing more that it solves

If you found this or any other answer useful please consider the use of the Helpful or correct buttons to award points

Tom Howarth VCP / vExpert

VMware Communities User Moderator

Blog: www.planetvm.net

Contributing author for the upcoming book "[VMware vSphere and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and the Virtual Environment|http://my.safaribooksonline.com/9780136083214]”. Currently available on roughcuts

[AsherN]

Essentials pehaps, Essentials Plus is fully capable. The biggest issue is the no upgrade path. It will also be interesting to see if othe products such as View, SRM, will be supported under Essentials. Let's face it, with today's Nehalem processors, 3 dual socket servers can serve a lot of VMs. I gave Essentials a long hard look. The only thing that stopped me was the uncertainty around SRM. Essentials would have done me for quite some time. I suspect that it would be sufficient for a lot of organizations.