Configuring Centralized and Host based Environment for vSphere Client 4.x and vCenter Server 4.x

This article provides steps to centrally manage ESX 3.x, ESXi 3.5, and ESX 4.x hosts using vCenter Server 4.x.

To add a vCenter Server 4.x license:

Click Administration.
Choose vCenter Server Settings.
Select Assign an existing license key to this vCenter Server if you have already added license keys.

If you are planning to enter and use a new license key:
1. Select Assign a new license key to this vCenter Server
2. Click Enter Key.
3. Enter the new license key along with a comment in the pop up window that appears.
4. Click OK.
5. The newly entered license key displays in the window, allowing you to choose between Evaluation mode and using a license key. Choose Evaluation mode if you are planning to run vCenter Server 4.x in Evaluation mode. Select a license key if you are planning to license vCenter Server 4.x using a valid key.
If you are managing ESX 3.x or ESXi 3.5 using vCenter Server 4.x, enter the IP address of license server that licenses ESX 3.x or ESXi 3.5.

The format is:

port number@ip address of license server

For example:

27000@ipaddress

Note: 27000 is the default port. Change the port number if appropriate.
Select Reconfigure ESX 3 hosts using license servers to use this server and click OK.

vCenter Server is now set up to centrally manage ESX 3.x, ESXi 3.5, and ESX 4.x hosts.

To add vSphere 4.x licenses:

Log in to vSphere Client.
Click Home.
Under Administration, click Licensing.
Click Manage vSphere Licenses.
Click Add License Keys.
Enter the license key in the Enter new vSphere license keys (one per line).
If necessary, include labels for the new license keys.
Click Add License Keys.

Note: After clicking Add License Keys, you can review the information associated with the license keys (such as capacity counts, expiration dates, and labels associated with the keys).
Click Next to assign the license keys.

On the next screen you can view the list of Licenses. Assign Licenses is automatically highlighted.
Click the vCenter tab to view the available vCenter Server 4.x license key details.
If appropriate, click Next to remove any vSphere 4.x licenses. Remove License Keys is automatically highlighted. Select the keys that you want to remove and click Next.

Note: You can review your changes on the Confirm Changes page before applying them to your inventory.
Click Finish to apply the changes.

To configure a host-based environment with vSphere 4.x:

Log in to vSphere Client with a vSphere 4.x IP address, user name (root), and password.
Click the Configuration tab, the, click License Features > Edit.
Click Assign a new license key to this host.
Click Enter Key to add the vSphere 4.x license key, then click OK.
Click OK to assign the vSphere 4.x license keys.

Based on VMware KB 1012909

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