VMware Licensing – How to Release an Unused License from a Host

licensingvmware-vcenter

I own VMware Essentials license (6 CPU's)

One of the hosts is going to be replaced with a new one. I am having trouble removing/changing the license on that host.

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As you can see on the image: the option to select the evaluation mode is grayed out for me.

How can I release that license?

EDIT: Removing the HOST from the VCenter – did not release the license for the CPU's. I want to point, that if I disconnect the server I CAN add a 3rd host to VCenter.

The new host is added to the VCenter – with evaluation key. But I can only see 1 CPU license available.

Is this somehow related to the changes that were done in the licensing scheme of VMWare Essentials?

VSphere editions enter image description here

— # of licenses is wrong
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Best Answer

Disconnect the server and replace the server with a new host...

Or you can simply remove the host from the vCenter setup. E.g. disconnect the host from your centralized management. That will release the license.

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It's possible that the number of available CPU's is NOT the correct number. enter image description here

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