VMware VirtualCenter 1.4.x Support DocumentationDocumentation | Knowledge Base | Discussion Forums VirtualCenter Licensing RequirementsThere are three elements to VirtualCenter licensing, each of which has a separate set of license keys with a different set of policies. VirtualCenter server - Requires one license for each VirtualCenter Server. VirtualCenter Server licenses are perpetual. A license key is requested the first time VirtualCenter client connects to the VirtualCenter server, not during installation. VirtualCenter agent licenses - Requires one license that comes in assorted configurations for each managed host. Managed processor licenses are perpetual. The license configurations are typically in combinations of pairs, for example, 2, 4, 8, 16, and unlimited processor licenses. Managed hosts cannot be partially licensed. For example, you cannot use 4 processors' worth of licenses on an 8-way system; this configuration requires an 8 processor license. Additional licenses can be added through the VirtualCenter client. Licenses are applied to either ESX Server, GSX Server, and VMware Server hosts as specified by the license keys submitted. Any time you add a host to VirtualCenter, VirtualCenter automatically applies an appropriate number of managed processor licenses towards that managed host. The number of licenses applied depends on the number of processors on the managed host. Note: Newer processors have two CPU cores in each processor package. Systems with dual-core processors must use ESX Server 2.5.2 or later, GSX Server 3.2 or later, or VMware Server 1.0 or later. VirtualCenter licenses are issued by pairs of processor packages, not by processor cores. Therefore, if the system is using two dual-core processors or two single-core processors, the system requires a single 2-processor VirtualCenter license. VMotion processor licenses - Requires one license for each processor for each managed host to be VMotion enabled. VMotion processor licenses are perpetual. As with the managed processor licenses, managed hosts cannot be partially VMotion licensed. For example, an 8-processor server requires eight licenses. Additional licenses can be added through the VirtualCenter client. Whenever you add a host to VirtualCenter and there are sufficient VMotion processor licenses available, VirtualCenter prompts you to VMotion-enable the new managed host. Select Yes. The managed host is then VMotion-enabled, and the appropriate number of licenses are applied by VirtualCenter. Whenever you remove a managed host from VirtualCenter, the VMotion licenses are released. The VMotion licenses must be reapplied when the host is re-managed by VirtualCenter. VMotion licenses are not intended to be mobile. The only legitimate circumstances under which you should move a license are when you are: |
