vSphere 6.5 has been released and as known from previous versions, VMware provides a free version of their Hypervisor ESXi for everyone again. The license key can be created for free at VMwares website. It has no expiration date. The binaries you will receive as 'Free Hypervisor' are 100% identical to the paid version.
Limitations
With ESXi 5.1 Free version, There is a hard limit of 32 GB of RAM. Really it is like a lockup for the admins to setup some big home lab. So, VMware understands our concerns and now released the Free version of ESXi 5.5 with no physical RAM limit. Free ESXi 6.5 - How to Download and get License Keys. Posted by fgrehl on November 16, 2016 Leave a comment (5) Go to comments. VSphere 6.5 has been released and as known from previous versions, VMware provides a free version of their Hypervisor ESXi for everyone again. The license key can be created for free.
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If you just recently installed VMWare Esxi 5.0 and vSphere 5.0 and are wondering how to install the license key in vSphere 5.0, here are the steps on how to do so:
1) Copy the license key you received on the VMWare download page. If you don't have it, log back into your account on the VMWare website. The license key should be directly above the download link.
2) Go into your vSphere 5.0 client.
3) At the top of the list of virtual machines, highlight your host machine.
4) Go to the 'Configuration' tab.
5) Choose the 'Licensed Features' listed in the 'Software' section.
6) Next, click the ‘Edit...’ link shown at the top right corner of the screen. An 'Assign License' window will appear.
7) Select the 'Assign a new license to this host' option.
8) Click the 'Enter Key' button. An 'Add License Key' window will appear.
9) Paste your license key into the text box shown.
10) Click 'OK' to close the 'Add License Key' window.
11) You should now see the license applied for the VMWare vSphere 5 Hypervisor and, in my case, it showed 'Unlimited' under the 'Available' column.
12) Click 'Ok' to close the 'Assign License' window.
The screen image below shows what is described above. I hope this helps you.
1. This is right on. howevers
2. I am getting the follwoing:
An error occurred when assigning the specified license key: The system memory is not satisfied with the 32 gb of maximum memory limit. Current with 48 GB of memory.
3. My co-workers says I need a second license.
4. I have reviewed everything under myvmware account and I can not identify 'how to' get the additional license, if that is the solution. So far I have not found any discussion or procedures for this problem.
/s/ Frank in Florida
Thank you sir, you are a life saver it worked like a charm.
Thank you sir, you are a life saver it worked like a charm.
Thank you very much, i wouldnt have figured this out on my own.
No problem. You're welcome. I am glad this is helping others and not just me.
Thank you very much for the useful posting..i will going to try it in my environment
Hi Reg1145,
I had installed a standalone ESXi 5.5, After booting up, I was able to connect the ESXi host in vSphere Client then assigned the free ESXi 5.5 license key successfully (Downloaded from VMWARE Site). Now the evaluation mode is changed and set to NEVER expires, but after a reboot/hard rest it has revoked the license and shows a evaluation 60 days.
Is there any fix for it ? or did u faced similar kind of issues?
Thanks
Wewill,
Sorry, I am not sure. Did you try to above instructions or try to reinstall?