Licensing ESXi 5.5 Hosts

You can use the vSphere Web Client and vCenter Server to license an individual host.

About ESXi Evaluation and Licensed Modes
After you purchase vSphere licenses, VMware provides a serial number that you use to license ESXi hosts.
You can use evaluation mode to explore the entire set of features that are available for ESXi hosts, including
features that are not included in the license that you have.
For example, in evaluation mode, you can use vMotion, HA, DRS, and other features, even if you have not
licensed those features.
The installable version of ESXi is always installed in evaluation mode. ESXi Embedded is preinstalled on an

internal USB device by your hardware vendor. It might be in evaluation mode or prelicensed.

The evaluation period is 60 days and begins when you turn on the ESXi host, even if you start in licensed
mode rather than evaluation mode. Any time during the 60-day evaluation period, you can convert from
licensed mode to evaluation mode. To take full advantage of the 60-day evaluation period, you should
convert to evaluation mode as soon as possible after you first power on the host.

Recording the ESXi License Key

All ESXi editions have license keys associated with them. VMware recommends that you write down the
license key and tape it to the server, or put the license key in a secure, easily accessible location.
You can access the license key from the direct console or the vSphere Web Client. If the host becomes

inaccessible or unbootable, it is important that you have a record of the license key.


Access the ESXi License Key from the Direct Console
If you have physical access to the host or remote access to the direct console, you can use the direct console

to access the ESXi license key.

Procedure
From the direct console, select View Support Information.
The license key appears in the form XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX, labeled License Serial
Number.

Access the ESXi License Key from the vSphere Web Client

You can use the vSphere Web Client to access the ESXi license key.
Procedure
1 From the vSphere Web Client, connect to the vCenter Server.
2 Select the host in the inventory.
3 Select the Manage tab.
4 Select Settings.
5 Select System.
6 Select Licensing.

The license key appears in the form XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX.