6.0

Assign a License Key to an ESXi Host
Using the vSphere Client, you can assign an existing or new license key to an ESXi host.
If the vSphere Client is connected directly to the host, on the host Configuration tab, click Licensed
Features > Edit to change the license key.
Prerequisites
Verify that you have the Global.Licenses privilege.
Procedure
1 In the vSphere Client, select the host in the inventory and click the Configuration tab.
2 In the Software section, click Licensed Features and click Edit.
3 Assign a license key.
n
Select Assign an existing license key to this host and select a license key from the Product list.
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Select Assign a new license key to this host, click Enter Key, and specify a license key in the form
XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX.
4 Click OK.
Set an ESXi Host to Evaluation Mode
If you have assigned a license key to an ESXi host, you can switch to evaluation mode to explore the full set
of features that are available for the host.
Procedure
1 In the vSphere Client, select the host in the inventory.
2 Click the Configuration tab.
3 In the Software section, click Licensed Features.
4 Click Edit next to ESX Server License Type.
5 Click Product Evaluation.
6 Click OK to save your changes.
The host is in evaluation mode and you can explore the entire set of features for ESXi. If you have already
used the host in evaluation mode, the time that remains in the evaluation period is decreased by the time
already used. For example, suppose you have used the host in evaluation mode for 20 days and then
assigned a vSphere Standard license key to the host. If you set the host back in evaluation mode, you can
explore the entire set of features that are available for the host for the remaining evaluation period of 40
days. You can track the remaining days from the evaluation period of a host in the host's page in the
vSphere Client.
NOTE After the evaluation period of the host expires, you receive a warning message, and the host cannot
be connected to a vCenter Server system. All powered-on virtual machines continue to work, but you
cannot power on any new virtual machines. You cannot change the current configuration of the features that
are already in use. You cannot use the features that remained unused while the host was in evaluation
mode.
vSphere Administration with the vSphere Client
46 VMware, Inc.