topic Re: Need standalone esxi 6.7 free license in ESXi Discussions

Need standalone esxi 6.7 free license

AlanRaczek1 — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 13:42:21 GMT

Hi, we have a small project and need to run several VM's . We were thinking about using the free license of ESXi. We would want to

use ESXI 6.7 and a free license if this is possible. Can anyone shed some light on how I can get a download and license for this? Thanks.

...Alan

Re: Need standalone esxi 6.7 free license

Lalegre — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 14:29:12 GMT

Hello @AlanRaczek1,

ESXi 6.7 reached End of Life and because of this, licenses are no longer available, however, if you have the ISO, you could install it and once the trial time expires (60 days) you can use the free license, however, you will not be able to manage it with vCenter if that is what you want.

Re: Need standalone esxi 6.7 free license

AlanRaczek1 — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 19:16:21 GMT

The developer using this will only run several VM's and I am sure vCenter is not needed. My issue is how do I get a free license for 6.7 if indeed it is still available? If not it seems the only free license the web page brings me to is V8. So I am stumped.

Re: Need standalone esxi 6.7 free license

Kinnison — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 07:18:20 GMT

Hello,

Comment edited to remove its content as it no longer serves the context of this discussion.

Regards.

Re: Need standalone esxi 6.7 free license

Lalegre — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 18:26:13 GMT

@AlanRaczek1,

If you have the ISO you can install the ESXi and after trial expires will switch to free mode, if you do not have the ISO I believe you have no other option that get a supported version, at least 7.

Re: Need standalone esxi 6.7 free license

MatthewX1986 — Sat, 29 Apr 2023 19:07:53 GMT

So even though my processor does not support EUFI, meaning i'm being forced to upgrade not only the esxi, but the server as well? WHAT IN THE HELL? i can't even register my esxi now!

Proliant 380 G7

Re: Need standalone esxi 6.7 free license

LisandrodeCuba — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 06:07:44 GMT

Hi,

I have to agree with @Lalegre Install with ISO and then use the free license. Can’t be managed with vcenter unfortunately.. Good luck

Re: Need standalone esxi 6.7 free license

Dahlton — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 11:29:35 GMT

I think I'm running into a similar issue, I am on version 6.7 and my evaluation license just ran out and it will not let me boot up any of my VMs. I don't need vCenter, is there any way I can get my VMs back up?

Re: Need standalone esxi 6.7 free license

flube — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 15:02:59 GMT

just download the eval

Re: Need standalone esxi 6.7 free license

Dahlton — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 21:31:55 GMT

Am I even still able to download the 6.7 eval? I had to get the Dell ISO as im running a PowerEdge R410. I expected it to just switch to the free version whenever the eval ran out, not lock me out of all of my VMs

Re: Need standalone esxi 6.7 free license

scott28tt — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 21:40:52 GMT

No, you cannot evaluate 6.7 since it is no longer supported.

Re: Need standalone esxi 6.7 free license

Dahlton — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 00:08:32 GMT

Am I just at mercy of my old hardware then? I believe I can only run 6.7 at the newest. Everything was running fine until the evaluation license ran out, all I need is to be able to power my VMs on. Is there any way I can do this?

Re: Need standalone esxi 6.7 free license

e_espinel — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 16:33:02 GMT

Hello.
You could try to reinstall with the option to preserve VMFS. By reinstalling you will get a demo again for 60 days.

Remember that you should always have a full backup of your data, that means the backup of the VMs.

Ideally you should have a logical drive for the VMware vShpere (ESXi) and another logical drive for the data.

Re: Need standalone esxi 6.7 free license

Dahlton — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 02:35:42 GMT

Much appreciated! That worked to give me some time to move everything. Much appreciated, that saved me a lot of time

Re: Need standalone esxi 6.7 free license

scott28tt — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 08:27:22 GMT

Just remember there's a difference between evaluating the software (with no license) and running the software for a prolonged period with a vSphere Hypervisor (or some other) license.

You also have the option of a long-term "evaluation" with VMUG Advantage: https://www.vmug.com/membership/vmug-advantage-membership/

That wouldn't help you with running non-supported versions such as 6.7, but does mean you can build a multi-host home lab with central management through vCenter, rather than just a standalone ESXi host.

Re: Need standalone esxi 6.7 free license

Kinnison — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 09:58:44 GMT

Hi,

Correct, by subscribing to the "VMUG Advantage" program you can evaluate vSphere 6.x (and several other products) for more than the canonical 60 days, but be careful, because as indicated:

"Version 6.0 retiring from VMUG Advantage soon
The store front will no longer be updating the keys for the VMware 6.x family of products, all keys will expire by next April (2024) and when the current supply of keys is gone no more will be added".

Regards,
Ferdinando