VMware ESX Manual

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VMware, Inc. 53

Chapter 5 Licensing VirtualCenter and ESX Server

To open a specific port in the service console firewall

1Logintotheserviceconsoleastherootuser.

2Executethiscommand:

esxcfg-firewall --openPort <portnumber>,tcp,out,"License Server"

Changing from Single-Host to Centralized Licensing

YoucanchangeyourESX Serverhostsfromsingle‐hostlicensingtocentralized

licensing.Youmustgenerateanewlicensefile,installalicenseserver(ifyoudonot

haveoneinstalled),andconfigureyourhoststousethenewlicensetype.

To change ESX Server hosts from single-host licensing to centralized licensing

1UsetheVMwarelicenseactivationportaltogenerateand

downloadanew

centralizedlicensefilecontainingallthelicensesforyourESX Serverhostsandany

associatedVirtualCenter Serverfeatures.

Thelicenseactivationportalletsyougeneratebothsingle‐hostandcentralized

licensefilesfromthesamelicenseactivationcode.

2Ifyouhavenotinstalledalicenseserver,dosoas

follows:

 TouseaFLEXnetlicenseserverinstalledinyourenvironment,see “Usingan

ExistingFLEXnetLicenseServer”onpage 39.

 Toinstallastandalonelicenseserver,see “InstallingaLicenseServer”on

page 60.

 ToinstallalicenseserveraspartofaVirtualCenterinstallation,see Chapter 6,

“InstallingVMwareInfrastructureManagement,”onpage 65.

3ConfigureyourVirtualCenter ServerandESX Serverhostsasdescribedin

“ConfiguringLicenseServerLicensing”onpage 50.

Setting Up Single-Host Licensing

Single‐hostlicensingrequiresavalidlicensefileoneachESX Serverhost.

Configuring an ESX Server Machine for Single-Host Licensing

Whenyoureceiveyourlicensefile,renameittovmware.licandplaceitonafile

systemyoucanaccessfromyourVI Client.

NOTEThefileextension.lic isrequired.