License Key Management for VMware Products

Products

Support Portal VMware Global Customer Assistance

Issue/Introduction

This article provides an overview of the self-service options available in the Broadcom Support Portal for VMware Products. Self-service options such as, Merge and Split License Keys, Upgrade and Downgrade License Keys and Manage License Folder Permissions.

In the License Keys page, all active licenses are in folders. The way you organize your license keys into folders is important because user permissions and access are determined at the folder level. Each of the site ID's you are associated to have its own Folder Structure which is customizable.

Resolution

Note: Before you begin, If you do not have an account in the Broadcom software portal, refer to Register for an account on the Broadcom Support Portal and Communities For Basic users, To build your profile with a site ID and becoming an Enterprise user, refer to Using your Broadcom Site ID(s) for full support portal access. If you are not aware of your site ID, refer to Find your Broadcom Support Site ID.

If you are an Enterprise user and require access to other site IDs, refer to Adding additional Broadcom Site IDs to an existing profile.

Accessing your Folders and License keys on the Licensing page.

Login to the Broadcom Support - My Dashboard
Select My entitlements
Click on the Site ID Name/Number
Click on Entitlement Details tab
Click on License badge icon

For more Information, See Creating and managing Licensing folders for VMware products

Licensing Key Navigation

Select site ID to see its HOME folder and associated license keys (Hover over on the site ID to see the Address)
Expand the HOME folder to view sub folders and Click on ⋮ (3-dot icon) to rename folders and view permissions
Click on ⋮ (3-dot icon) next to contract end date to see the available self-service options. Note: you cannot self -serve license key(s) on expired contracts
Use Search to filter results by product, key, serial, and contract number
Keys will have badges to indicate Beta, Trial/POC, New and Expired.
Copy text from the column
View parent folder name
View license history

Self Service License Key Actions

Split License: Split keys into multiple within quantity of the original key.
Merge License: Merge keys into a single key as long as type, site ID and end date (term key) are the same.
Move License: Move a license to a new or existing folder.
Copy License: Copy license key text.
Upgrade License: Choose an available upgrade for a given key.
Downgrade License: Choose an available downgrade for a given key.

Managing License Folder Permissions

As a User Administrator on the Broadcom support portal, you can manage user permissions for accessing folders on the Licensing page. This includes adding, updating, and removing or revoking user access to a folder.

A User Administrator on the Broadcom Support Portal can grant access to all Folders within a Site ID, while an Enterprise User with the elevated permissions to "Manage Folder" can add Users on Folder Level only.

Add users to a specific folder so that they have only the permissions they need, including viewing certain license keys.
There are several types of folder permissions that you can grant to a user depending on their role within your organization
Remove users from folders immediately to no longer have access to the license keys. This prevents unauthorized use of licenses by users who no longer work for your organization.

For instructions, refer to Manage Users and Permissions in the folders for VMware products.

Merge and Split License Keys

Individual license keys might contain a greater quantity than you need to use at one time. Splitting license keys is a way to more effectively separate and track licenses that are in use.

For example:

You have purchased a 10-CPU license key but are installing it on a 4-CPU server. Divide 4 CPUs into a new license key before use.
You have purchased a 12-CPU license key that will be deployed to three separate 4-CPU servers. Divide the license key into three license keys before use.

Merging the license keys together is a way to reduce clutter within folders. You can also merge licenses together into a single license key if you need to use a larger quantity at one time.
You can create a Not In Use folder and move the license keys that are not used in to it. This reduces the number of license keys in the main folder and makes it is easier for you to determine how many licenses are currently available.

For instructions on how to Merge and Split license keys, see Merge and Split License Keys for VMware products.

Upgrade and Downgrade License Keys

You can upgrade a product to the most current version when your Support and Subscription contract is current and active at the time of the new product version is release.
To receive an alert When a new version of a product becomes available, refer to Subscribing to Broadcom product notifications and alerts. If your contract has expired, you can request a support contract renewal quote, refer to Purchase or renew licenses and subscriptions for Broadcom products.

Only User admin and users with Upgrade and Downgrade License Keys permissions can upgrade/downgrade a license key.
Note that renewing your contract will not automatically upgrade your License Keys in the Licensing page.

For instructions on how to upgrade / downgrade license keys, see Upgrade and Downgrade License Keys for VMware products

Major Upgrade

Minor Upgrade

This changes the product version; it is an upgrade from a lower to a higher version of the software.
This requires a license key change, where a User is required to upgrade the keys along with their Environment upgrade.

Example: vSphere 6.0 >> vSphere 7.0

This does not change the product version and does not require a license key change
Users are only required to update their Environment and their existing license key would work on the same patch. This is an upgrade for bug fixes, new features/components and other small improvements.

Example: vSphere 7.0 >> vSphere 7.1