Redeeming License Activation Codes

How to Redeem License Activation Codes

When you purchase your VMware products and features, your purchases are consolidated into a single order and you receive a single License Activation Code (LAC) for all products you ordered. You need to use the VMware web‐based license activation portal to redeem your LAC and create license files that you use to unlock your products.

Follow these steps to obtain an LAC and redeem it for license files:

1. Order your VMware products.
   Once the order is processed, an order confirmation e-mail is automatically sent to you.
2. Look for a separate email with a License Activation code.
   One License Activation Code will be sent for all the products you purchased in a single order. Generally, the LAC has the following format: FAC‐E253J‐XXXXX‐RC84T‐XXXXX.
   

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   NOTE: If you don’t receive the e‐mail containing your LAC, call VMware licensing support or send an e‐mail to vi‐hotline@vmware.com.

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3. Register your License Activation Code.
   Visit My Account and select Product Registration, sign in, and enter your LAC in the appropriate box. After you register your LAC, you can display, manage, and activate your licenses using the VMware web‐based license activation portal.
   

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   NOTE: If you're new to VMware, you need to create your VMware account.

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4. Display and manage your licenses.
   On the VMware Product Licensing page, click on Manage VMware Product Licenses. This will open the Manage Licenses page of the license activation portal.
5. Generate and retrieve license files using the license activation portal.
   For detailed information on the license file activation process, see the license activation portal online Help.
   Follow this basic procedure to create and retrieve your license files:
   
   1. On the Manage Licenses page of the license activation portal, click New.
   2. Select the licensing model and click Next.
      The following two models are available for your selection:
      • Centralized License Server
        When you use this licensing model, a single license file is stored on a license server, which manages your entire license pool and makes licenses available to one or more hosts. VirtualCenter and features that require VirtualCenter, such as VMotion, must use the Centralized License Server model.
      • Single Host
        When you use this licensing model, the license files are stored on individual ESX Server hosts. Lab Manager can use only the Single Host licensing model.
   3. Enter the number of licenses you want to redeem and click Next.
      Some products, such as ESX Server, require licenses to be activated on a per CPU basis and in powers of two. For example, to generate a license file for a 4‐CPU host, enter 2 to activate two ESX Server license units.
   4. Enter a comment for your license file.
      For example, you can enter the name of the server where the file will reside or the name of the specific project, for which the file is created.
      Click Finish to generate your license file.
   5. Select the method to retrieve your license file.
      You can download your license file to your local hard disk or send as an attachment to a specified e‐mail address.
6. Download your VMware products at the Downloads page.
   Use the license files retrieved from the license portal to unlock product features during installation.

If you have any questions on the license activation process, contact VMware licensing support at VMware licensing support or send an e‐mail to vi‐hotline@vmware.com.