Viewing the number of CPU Licenses using the VI Client

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article provides steps to view the type and count of licenses uploaded to the License Server.

Environment

VMware ESX Server 3.5.x
VMware ESX Server 3.0.x
VMware VirtualCenter 2.5.x
VMware VirtualCenter 2.0.x

Resolution

To check that the activated centralized license file contains the intended licenses and units contents through the License File Checker.

 

Note: The License File Checker gives you statistics regarding the total number of licenses found and highlights inconsistencies that may potentially cause issues. This utility handles only Centralized or Server-based license files (used with VirtualCenter).

 

To view the type and count of licenses uploaded to the License Server:
 

1. Log in to VMware Infrastructure Client and connect to the VirtualCenter Server.
2. Click Administration.
3. Click the Licenses tab. This screen shows the total number of CPUs that can be supported in this environment.
   
   Note: A VirtualCenter license is one per CPU but the ESX hosts and their feature licenses equate to two CPUs per license. As you continue to add more ESX hosts and enable enterprise features such as vMotion or DRS, the count of remaining CPU licenses goes down.
   
   

If think that the total number of CPU licenses is incorrect, ensure that you are checking the correct Centralized license file.

 

To ensure that the correct procedure was followed to upload/install this license file, see Installing ESX Server Licenses (1001383).

Additional Information

For related information, see Not enough licenses installed (1005265) or Cannot connect ESX server to VirtualCenter (1005562).

Installing licenses for ESX Server 3.x
Not enough licenses installed in vSphere/Virtual Infrastructure
Connecting an ESX host to VirtualCenter fails with the error: Not enough licenses installed