ESXI Evaluation question

[abcomit]

We've just installed ESXI 5.5 and it's up and running with 1x VM so far.

I was under the impression that ESXI 5.5 was free but I am getting Evaluation messages within the vSphere client software. Can someone advise what happens at the end of the 60days?

Does 5.1 work the same way?

[schepp]

Hi,

the ESXi hypervisor is available as a free edition, but you have to register to get a free license key. After you enter the key with the vSphere client your ESXi will run in the free hypervisor mode. Register here: www.vmware.com/go/get-free-esxi

In the 60 day trial periode you habe full access to all features of the paid Enterprise Plus license. After that 60 days you won't be able to power on the VMs, until you add a valid license key.

This is the same for ESXi 5.1

Regards

[HernanMaslowski]

The 60 day trial allows you to try the full version of the product, if it doesn´t change from 4 to 5 what happens is this:

After the 60-day evaluation period expires, you are no longer able to perform some operations in vCenter Server and ESX/ESXi. If you want to continue to have full use of ESX/ESXi and vCenter Server operations, you must acquire a license.

Without a license, you are able to perform some operations, but you cannot power on or reset your virtual machines. All hosts are disconnected from the vCenter Server system if the evaluation period expires before you assign a license to the vCenter Server system. Any single ESX/ESXi host is disconnected from the vCenter Server system if the ESX/ESXi evaluation period expires before you assign a license to the host.

When you switch your vCenter Server system and ESX from evaluation mode to licensed mode, consider the following:

■	If a vCenter Server system is managing VMware Infrastructure 3 hosts (for example, ESX 3.x or ESXi 3.5), the vCenter Server system must have access to a license server. You can download the VMware License Server from the VMware Web site.
■	To license vCenter Server, you must apply a vCenter Server license key.
■	To license ESX/ESXi, you must apply a vSphere license key.
■	When you assign a license to a machine on which a VMware vSphere component is installed, the license must be compatible with all resources and features that you configure during the evaluation period. For example, suppose you add 10 hosts to the vCenter Server system inventory during the evaluation period. After the evaluation period expires, you try to assign an edition license that limits the number of hosts that can be managed by a vCenter Server system. The assignment operation fails because the edition allows a vCenter Server system to manage fewer than 10 hosts. To correct this issue, you can upgrade your license key to a higher edition or you can remove hosts from the inventory. As another example, if you configure a cluster of hosts to use Fault Tolerance and DRS during the evaluation period, you can only assign a license that allows the use of those features. Hence, the assignment of a higher edition license succeeds. To assign a lower edition license, you must first disable Fault Tolerance and DRS. Anyway, you can register at MYVMWARE and get a free key for personal use with some limitations. Take a look at this link: vSphere 5 ESXi free version | VMwaremine - Mine of knowledge about virtualization Hope this helps

[admin]

Hi,, If your host showing..60 days Evaluation messages .. After 60 days u cant access this host and you will loose all vms ...so now you can download Free ESXi key and put this key in your host..than message will be change to ..Expire Naver .. Here is step to assign key to host.. Verify that you have the Global.Licenses privilege. ■ Ensure that the vSphere Client is connected to the vCenter Server system. Procedure 1  In the vSphere Client, select Home > Administration > Licensing. 2 In the Management tab, right-click a host and select Change license key. 3 Assign a license key. Select Assign an existing license key to this host and select a license key from the Product list. Select Assign a new license key to this host, click Enter Key, and specify a license key and an optional label for the license key. 4 Click OK. Hope it will help you..

[sav1]

Hm, expired 2 hours ago,and..

I was able to power on any VMs!

Was,... until first reboot of esxi for clear test.

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esxi 5.5.0 u2.