NSX Manager Licensing considerations for enhanced linked mode

Products

• VMware NSX for vSphere

Issue/Introduction

This solution provides information about NSX Manager Licensing considerations for enhanced linked mode.

Environment

VMware NSX for vSphere 6.3.x
VMware NSX for vSphere 6.2.x

Resolution

• In case of, an enhanced linked mode (multiple VCs are using same/common PSC), all NSX managers are associated to 1 “NSX for vSphere” solution asset for licensing purpose. That is same NSX license is utilized / applied to all NSX managers in the environment.

• If there are 2 PSCs and they are getting replicated with each other, then also all NSX managers will use same single license (under this scenario, two or more NSX licenses would need to be combined by the customer through the VMware licensing portal, load the new license into vCenter, and then re-register NSX Manager with vCenter to load the new license.)

• Starting with NSX 6.2.4, NSX license usage counts are displayed on NSX Manager's Summary UI and also retrievable via API. NSX license usage counts will no longer be reported through vCenter licensing service.

• If using "NSX for vShield Endpoint", which is the default key upon initial installation, there is hard enforcement restricted to anti-virus usage. It will actively block new host prep for vxlan/dfw and block new Edge creation.

• For NSX Standard/Advanced/Enterprise, there is no hard enforcement on licensing and license enforcement is based on EULA.

To identify the license is associated with a vCenter :

1. Log in to vSphere Web Client.
2. Navigate to Networking an Security and select NSX Managers.
3. Select the NSX Manager, in the left pane and select the Summary tab.
4. Select License Information which displays the License Key, Edition, Expiry, and usage.

Additional Information

none