How to remove a License Manually from VCenter using JXplorer.

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Removing an expired or irrelevant license from VCenter fails from GUI.

 

Stale license associations for objects like ESXi hosts and vCenters are still present in the VMDir Database.

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 8.0.x
VMware vCenter Server 7.0.x
VMware vCenter Server 6.0.x

Cause

This issue occurs when the License was being used by any product within the VC and no longer being used, but LicenseEntity and AssetEntity is still present in VMDir Database.

Resolution

• Take Snapshot of the VCenter. (Offline Snapshots for VCs in Linked Mode).
• Download the JXplorer and install it in the local Computer.
• Open the JXplorer and provide the VCenter details, from where the License has to be removed as follows:
  • Host: IP/FQDN of the vCenter/PSC
  • Protocol: LDAP v3.
  • Security Level: User + Password.
  • Security User DN: cn=administrator,cn=users,dc=vsphere,dc=local
  • Security Password: the password of the administrator user for the SSO identity server

It should look similar to this:

• Once logged in, navigate to Services > License Service and look for the objects listed with the names LicenseEntity (Usually at the bottom of the dropdown list). 

• When we select the license in question, the license code of our vCenter will be displayed on the right side of the application.

• When we identify the necessary license, we can delete it by right clicking on the LicenseEntity object and then delete.
• The License should no longer be available on the vCenter Server.

Additional Information

Similarly, the license association to objects like ESXi hosts and vCenters can be removed by deleted the AssetEntity for the Object ID.

Refer: Using JXplorer to connect to the vSphere Single Sign-on