Add ESXi 4 evaluation host to vCenter4 Essentials server

[bluefin1]

I have an ESXi host running an evaluation license. It has an inventory of about 10 VMs. I have purchased a vSphere 4 Essentials license and prepared a physical vCenter server and client. I have added an Essentials host license to the ESXi host using a stand-alone client.

When I try to add this host to my datacenter inventory in vCenter I get an error.

" The vSphere 4 Essentials license for Host <hostname> does not include VMotion. Upgrade the license."

I do not need VMotion at this time and have no intention of upgrading the license. Why do I get this error and how can it be resolved?

My goal is to simply add the (now licensed) evaluation host to my vCenter Essentials datacenter.

Thank you for any assistance.

[AnatolyVilchins]

I'm not sure on ESXi but expecting the same procedure like ESX version :

Login ESXi -> Configuration Tab -> License Features -> Edit.

Then choose "Assign an existing license key to this host" and select

"Evaluation"

iSCSI Software Support Department

[bluefin1]

Thanks for your response. I had already added the Essentials host license key to the evaluation host (yes the procedure is the same on ESXi).

My problem lies with adding the host to my datacenter object in th vCenter server i have set up.

The process completes fine until the final stage is processed:

Datacenter > Add host

Connection - OK

Host summary - OK

Assign License - OK

Virtual Machine Location - OK

Ready to Complete - OK

During 'Add stand-alone host' processing I get the VMotion error as if I were trying to move the VMs. However, the VMs should remain in the same location so I should have no use for VMotion in this case.

[jkumhar75]

1. Is your ESX servers are in cluster or stand-alone?

2.Do you have any storage connected to this ESX server.If so it's worth trying disconnect and then try to add the server into the VC.

[PaulSvirin]

You can install Vmotion module for Essentials Plus, although this is concerned wit license upgrade too.

Anyway a call to support will give you 100% correct answer about the issue.

---

iSCSI SAN software

[paul_xtravirt]

Assuming that your existing ESX servers are located within a cluster and you are trying to add your ESXi host in to this cluster, you will recieve the error if DRS is enabled on the cluster - since you have no vMotion licence it will produce this error as it breaks DRS licensing rules.

Create a new cluster and add the host in to there. I am sure that that will work. Alternatively, disable DRS on your existing cluster and you should then be able to add your new host in.

If you found this helpful, please consider awarding some points

[cefas_system]

HI,

I have the same problem, I don't have any clusters within my datacenter at all and am still getting the same problem, did you manage to resolve this?

Thanks

Michael

[bluefin1]

The ESX server is stand-alone. I have tried unmounting connected storage and then adding the the vCenter but I still get the same error message.

[a_p_]

Just one question.

You said "I have added an Essentials host license to the ESXi host using a stand-alone client". Did you also add the Essentials licence keys for vCenter and the hosts to vCenter server before trying to add hosts?

If not, add the licence keys to vCenter server and then retry adding the ESX host.

André

[bluefin1]

Thanks for your response but, yes, I already added the vCenter Essentials license to the vCenter server.

[a_p_]

Reading your posts again I saw you mentioned that you unmounted storage.

Take a look at VSphere 4 Essentials Plus – Adding Hosts.

Maybe that helps.

André

[bluefin1]

OK. Thanks for the post. This put me on the right track. I did not have VMotion enabled on a storage adapter but it was enabled on a vSwitch in the VMkernel port group. I disabled this in the port group configuration and my problem was solved.

[bluefin1]

I have resovled this. VMotion was enabled on the VMkernel port group in one of my vSwitch configurations. This caused the error. I disabled it and the problem was solved.

[a_p_]

Glad to here you solved the issue.

To help others on the forum having the same issue, you should consider to mark helpful and correct answers accordingly , even if the correct answer is your own one.

André