FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q) Why did VMware change the implementation of licensing in VMware Infrastructure 3?
Q) I seem to be missing license activation codes for part of my product upgrade entitlements, who should I contact for assistance?
Q) How can I transfer license activation codes from 1 person to another that is if the license activation codes were sent to someone that is no longer with my company?
Q) I have been receiving VMware Infrastructure 3 related emails containing a number of new terms, such as “partner activation code”, “partner activation portal”, “license activation code”, and “license redemption portal”. What do all these terms mean?
Q) I would like to manage ESX Server 2.x and ESX Server 3.x hosts from my VirtualCenter 2.x installation, how should licensing be configured?
Q) I used my license activation code(s) to generate license server based files, how do I exchange them for host based license files, or vice-versa?
Q) Why did VMware change the implementation of licensing in VMware Infrastructure 3?
A: New licensing mechanisms were introduced in VMware Infrastructure 3 to simplify the license management and configuration associated with the products by
- Unifying license management for ESX Server & Virtual Center
- Eliminating the need for different keys for different hardware form factors such as 2, 4, 8, and 16-way servers.
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The license server based option provided by default with VirtualCenter 2.0 serves primarily as a license distribution mechanism, and allows new ESX Servers to be quickly added or existing ESX Servers to be replaced. The host based option available for ESX Server 3.0 is similar to the per-host licensing mechanisms used by ESX Server 2.x, but still allows keys to be appended / divided for re-use across different hardware form factors.
Q) I seem to be missing license activation codes for part of my product upgrade entitlements, who should I contact for assistance?
A: If you have not received license activation code(s) for your upgrade entitlements, or have problems redeeming your license files, please email vi-hotline@vmware.com and include your license activation code(s) or the order numbers for your previous ESX Server 2.x and VirtualCenter 1.x orders. You can also contact a Dell Sales Specialist. If you have already redeemed your license files, and have questions regarding product configuration & troubleshooting, please file a support request through your usual VMware technical support avenues.
Q) How can I transfer license activation codes from 1 person to another that is if the license activation codes were sent to someone that is no longer with my company?
A: Please email vi-hotline@vmware.com and include the order numbers for your previous ESX Server 2.x and VirtualCenter 1.x orders. You can also contact a Dell Sales Specialist.
Q) I have been receiving VMware Infrastructure 3 related emails containing a number of new terms, such as “partner activation code”, “partner activation portal”, “license activation code”, and “license redemption portal”. What do all these terms mean?
A: Orders placed Dell, have unique identifiers associated with them. A “Partner Activation Code” is a unique code identifying orders placed through VMware partners (like Dell), and a “Partner Activation Portal” is a self-service portal for customers to register purchases through VMware partners to their VMware accounts.
A “VMware License Activation Code” is a unique code issued by VMware after a customer registers a Partner Activation Code, or after a customer places an order directly through VMware, and can be associated with one or more VMware products purchased. The “VMware License Redemption Portal” is a self-service portal for customers to redeem license activation codes & download license files to use with VMware Infrastructure 3.
Q) I would like to manage ESX Server 2.x and ESX Server 3.x hosts from my VirtualCenter 2.x installation, how should licensing be configured?
A: Licensing for the ESX Server 2.x hosts and Virtual SMP should continue to use the legacy serial numbers on individual ESX Servers, but the licenses for the corresponding VirtualCenter specific features such as the Management Server, Management Agent licenses for ESX Server, and VMotion will need to use the new VI3 license files. Since the VI3 License Server based files corresponding to VI3 Starter, Standard, and Enterprise editions will contain licenses for the corresponding number of processors of ESX Server AND VirtualCenter Management Agents you will need to perform the following in order to run ESX Server 2.x and manage it from a VC 2.x installation:
- For existing installations, leave the licensing on existing ESX Server 2.x hosts using serial numbers unchanged.
- For new ESX Server 2.x installations, redeem the VI3 license activation codes to generate ESX Server 2.x serial numbers, and provide the serial numbers at the time of installation or configuration.
- Redeem the VI3 license activation codes to generate VI3 license server based files, combining the multiple files into a single license server based file if needed.
- Instructions for combining the multiple files are located inside the license files and in the Installation Guide.
- Install and configure VirtualCenter 2.x to use the combined license server based file containing all of the VirtualCenter specific features.
- Since the VI3 license server based files will already contain the ESX Server licenses as well, you can then easily distribute VI3 licenses to the ESX Servers if they are upgraded to 3.x at a later time (or generate host based licenses to configure the ESX Servers after they are upgraded).
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Q) I used my license activation code(s) to generate license server based files, how do I exchange them for host based license files, or vice-versa?
A: License activation code(s) can be used to generate BOTH License Server Based and Host Based VMware Infrastructure 3 license files through the VMware License Redemption Portal. If you have redeemed a license activation code for one type, and would like to generate the other variety, simply log-in to your VMware store account at the following link and select the other option:
http://www.vmware.com/download/download.do?downloadGroup=VI-30
Once redeemed in both License Server Based and Host Based formats, the license files generated from the activation code(s) will remain available for viewing and downloading.
