Home / server / Questions / 450889
Accepted
Saariko
Asked: 2012-11-22 07:05:47 +0800 CST

How to release a VMware unused license from a host? New licensing scheme?

  • 772

I own VMware Essentials license (6 CPU's)

One of the hosts is going to be replaced with a new one. I am having trouble removing/changing the license on that host.

enter image description here

As you can see on the image: the option to select the evaluation mode is grayed out for me.

How can I release that license?

EDIT: Removing the HOST from the VCenter - did not release the license for the CPU's. I want to point, that if I disconnect the server I CAN add a 3rd host to VCenter.

The new host is added to the VCenter - with evaluation key. But I can only see 1 CPU license available.

Is this somehow related to the changes that were done in the licensing scheme of VMWare Essentials?

VSphere editions enter image description here

-- # of licenses is wrong enter image description here

licensing

4 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    Disconnect the server and replace the server with a new host...

    Or you can simply remove the host from the vCenter setup. E.g. disconnect the host from your centralized management. That will release the license.

    enter image description here

    It's possible that the number of available CPU's is NOT the correct number. enter image description here

    • 6

  2. Remove the host from vCenter. This will "remove" the license from that host and make it available for your new host.

    • 2

  3. On vCenter Server Appliance 5.5, SSH into your Appliance and restart the VMware VirtualCenter Server Service AFTER removing the hosts. The licenses will then become available to reallocate.

    Here is a link to a KB discussing the services:

    http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2054085

    • 0

  4. Enter the host into maintenance mode and remove from vCenter inventory, refresh (i'm using web client 6.0 U2) then select the (new) host -> Manage -> Licensing, license is now available.

    • 0