VMware vCenter Lab Manager 4.0 includes the following key new features:

• VMware vSphere and vCenter Server 4.0 Support – Use vCenter Lab Manager with the latest release of vSphere and vCenter Server. Lab Manager 4.0 supports both ESX and ESXi hosts.
• Workspaces – Create work areas with designated server, storage and network resources and seamlessly transition system configurations between them, e.g. to create and move production system clones to staging and test environments on different networks and storage hardware.
• Host Spanning – Deploy large multi-tier VM configurations in fenced mode across multiple hosts for even greater scalability (requires vSphere Enterprise Plus.)

For a detailed list of new features and enhancements, please refer to the Release Notes in the documentation section.

VMware vCenter Lab Manager 4.0 is licensed on a per processor (1 CPU with up to 12 cores) basis. Simply count the number of processors in the ESX hosts that you will use with VMware vCenter Lab Manager to determine the total number of licenses needed.

VMware vCenter Lab Manager 4.0 requires:

• vCenter Server 4.0 Standard
• vSphere 4.0 Standard, Advanced or Enterprise (Both ESX and ESXi hypervisors are supported)

For a more detailed list of system requirements, please refer to the Users Guide in the documentation section

Simply download the latest product binaries, uninstall the program files of the previous version and install the new bits. Make sure you back up the VMware vCenter Lab Manager database before you begin the upgrade process. VMware vCenter Lab Manager 4.0 requires a new license key that all existing customers with support and subscription (SnS) contracts will receive automatically. If for some reasons you did not receive the new license key, please contact VMware. For detailed upgrade recommendations, please refer to the Users Guide in the documentation section.

To ensure that you realize the full benefits of the VMware vCenter Lab Manager product, a minimum of one year of Basic (12x5) Support and Subscription is required.  You may also choose to upgrade to Production (24x7) Support and Subscription.  Along with access to the world’s largest virtualization support organization with the most experience supporting critical applications in a virtual infrastructure, both support offerings also include access to periodic fixes and enhancements to our products during the life of your support contract.   These programs are offered on an annual or multi-year subscription basis. 

Depending on the criticality of your systems being managed by VMware vCenter Lab Manager, you may want to consider purchasing Business Critical Support.  VMware’s Business Critical Support is a supplemental service to Production which provides your centralized data center team with personalized technical support delivered by a designated team of experts familiar with your system configuration, past support experience and specific business needs.