6.7

n
The license must support all the features that the host uses. For example, if the host is associated
with a vSphere Distributed Switch, the license that you assign must support the vSphere Distributed
Switch feature.
If you attempt to assign a license that has insufficient capacity or does not support the features that the
host uses, the license assignment fails.
You can assign and reassign the CPU capacity of a vSphere license to any combination of ESXi hosts.
You can assign a vSphere license for 10 CPUs to any of the following combinations of hosts:
n
Five 2-CPU hosts
n
Three 2-CPU hosts and one 4-CPU host
n
Two 4-CPU hosts and one 2-CPU host
n
One 8-CPU host and one 2-CPU host
Dual-core and quad-core CPUs, such as Intel CPUs that combine two or four independent CPUs on a
single chip, count as one CPU.
Evaluation Mode
When you install ESXi, its default license is evaluation mode. Evaluation mode licenses expire after 60
days. An evaluation mode license provides the set of features that equals the highest vSphere product
edition.
If you assign a license to an ESXi host before its evaluation period expires, the time available in the
evaluation period decreases by the time already used. To explore the entire set of features available for
the host, set it back to evaluation mode, and use it for the remaining evaluation period.
For example, if you use an ESXi host in evaluation mode for 20 days, then assign a vSphere Standard
license to the host, and then set the host back to evaluation mode, you can explore the entire set of
features available for the host for the remaining evaluation period of 40 days.
License and Evaluation Period Expiry
For ESXi hosts, license or evaluation period expiry leads to disconnection from vCenter Server. All
powered on virtual machines continue to work, but you cannot power on virtual machines after they are
powered off. You cannot change the current configuration of the features that are in use. You cannot use
the features that remained unused while the host was in evaluation mode.
Licensing ESXi Hosts After Upgrade
If you upgrade an ESXi host to a version that starts with the same number, you do not need to replace the
existing license with a new one. For example, if you upgrade a host from ESXi 5.1 to 5.5, you can use the
same license for the host.
If you upgrade an ESXi host to a version that starts with a different number, you must apply a new
license. For example, if you upgrade an ESXi host from 5.x to 6.x, you need to license the host with a
vSphere 6 license.
vCenter Server and Host Management
VMware, Inc. 86