How to order a license for the VMware ESXI software USB key - IBM BladeCenter

How to order a license for the VMware ESXI software USB key - IBM BladeCenter Applicable countries and regions Source RETAIN tip: H196671 Symptom The VMware ESXi software on the Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive (Customer Replaceable Unit (CRU) 42D0545) is not licensed and a license key is not provided. The software will report "evaluation" and will not show a license serial number. If the user wants to continue using the software after the 60-day trial period, then they must take one of the following actions: Obtain and install an ESXi Standalone Server license from VMware. Steps for obtaining the license are provided in the next section. Purchase a vSphere license. IBM offers VMware vSphere licenses and subscriptions. To purchase VMware vSphere from IBM, contact your IBM sales representative. If the user installs VMware vCenter? Server from the VMware vCenter Server DVD or VMware Infrastructure? Management Installer CD, which is included with the USB drive, the software starts in evaluation mode with full VMware vSphere? Enterprise Plus Edition capabilities if using ESXi 4.0, or VMware Infrastructure Enterprise Edition capabilities if you are using ESXi 3.5. The evaluation mode allows the user to use the software for only 60 days. If the user does not use VMware vCenter, then they will have only ESXi Standard Server features, and can use the software for only 60 days. After the 60-day trial period, the user must obtain and install the ESXi Standalone Server license (offered free from VMware) to continue using the software. For a comparison of vSphere editions for mid-size and enterprise businesses, see the following URL: http://www.vmware.com/products/vsphere/buy/editions_comparison.html For a comparison of VMware ESXi 3.5 editions, see the following URL: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1006543 Affected configurations The system may be any of the following IBM servers: BladeCenter HS22, type 7870, any model BladeCenter HS22V, type 7871, any model BladeCenter LS22, type 7901, any model BladeCenter LS42, type 7902, any model System x3200 M3, type 7327, any model System x3200 M3, type 7328, any model System x3250 M3, type 4251, any model System x3250 M3, type 4252, any model System x3250 M3, type 4261, any model System x3400 M3, type 7378, any model System x3400 M3, type 7379, any model System x3500 M3, type 7380, any model System x3550 M3, type 7944, any model System x3650 M2, type 7947, any model System x3650 M3, type 7945, any model System x3850 M2, type 7141, any model The system is configured with at least one of the following: VMware ESX Server 3i version 3.5 Embedded, any update VMware ESXi Embedded, version 4.0, any update The system is configured with one or more of the following IBM Options: IBM USB Memory Key for VMware ESXi 3.5 Update 4, Option 41Y8269, replacement part number 42D0545 IBM USB Memory Key for VMware ESXi 4, Option 41Y8278, replacement part number 42D0545 IBM USB Memory Key for VMware Hypervisor, Option 41Y8268, replacement part number 42D0545 Note: This does not imply that the network operating system will work under all combinations of hardware and software. Please see the compatibility page for more information: http://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/serverproven/compat/us/ Workaround 1 Obtain the ESXi Standalone Server license key To obtain a free ESXi Standalone Server license key from VMware, complete the following steps: Go to one of the following VMware Web sites: For ESXi 4.0, go to http://www.vmware.com/go/get-free-esxi. For ESXi 3.5, go to https://vmware.com/tryvmware/?p=esxi&lp=1. If the user has an account, log in. If the user does not have an account, register and create one. After logging in to the web site, an activation e-mail is sent to the e-mail address associated with the account. After receiving the activation e-mail, click on the link in the e-mail. The browser is redirected to the activation Web site where an ESXi Standalone Server license key, a list of downloadable binaries, and links to documentation are displayed. Copy the license key from the Web site and use the VMware vSphere Client to apply it to the host running VMware ESXi. Workaround2 Use VMware vCenter Server after the trial period The VMware vCenter Server DVD included in this package comes with a 60-day trial period. If the user plans to use VMware vCenter Server to manage ESXi after the trial period, then they must purchase a separate license for VMware vSphere. To purchase this license, contact your IBM sales representative. For more information about VMware vCenter Server and the features a vSphere license includes, see the FAQs on the VMware Web site at the following URL: http://www.vmware.com/products/esxi/uses.html Additional information The VMware ESXi software on the USB key does not contain a license and can only be used for the evaluation period. The user must obtain a license using the steps above to obtain a free license or purchase a vSphere license after the evaluation period. The VMware vCenter software is also evaluation software. A license must be purchased if the user wants to use the software after the evaluation period. Note: For ESXi 3.5, if the USB key came PRE-INSTALLED in a System x server or blade, then a license is installed and the license serial number will be displayed. Applicable countries and regions Worldwide Link: http://www-947.ibm.com/support/entry/portal/docdisplay?brand=5000008&lndocid=MIGR-5083899