VMware Live Site Recovery (formerly SRM) shows 'Evaluation Mode' or missing license after upgrade to 9.0
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VMware Live Site Recovery (formerly SRM) shows 'Evaluation Mode' or missing license after upgrade to 9.0

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Article ID: 376866

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Updated On:

Products

VMware Site Recovery Manager 8.x VMware Live Recovery

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

  • After upgrading to SRM 9.x (VMware Live Site Recovery), the license status shows as "Evaluation" or "Expired."
  • Administrator is unable to locate the new subscription-based license key for SRM in the Broadcom portal.

 

Environment

VMware Site Recovery Manager 8.X

VMware Live Site Recovery [VLSR] 9.0

Cause

Site Recovery Manager (SRM) only preserves license assignments during minor upgrades within the same version family (e.g., from version 8.8.0 to 8.8.0.3).

During a major upgrade to version 9.0 (VMware Live Site Recovery), the license state is not automatically migrated. Although licensing for the broader environment is now centralized via VCF Operations (using subscription-based files), VLSR 9.0 still requires the manual re-application of a valid SRM 8.x license key to the vCenter asset. Until this manual assignment is completed, the solution will default to 'Evaluation Mode' or appear as 'Unlicensed'."

Resolution

When upgrading SRM from version 8.x to Live Site Recovery 9.0, there is no need to upgrade the license key. The existing Site Recovery Manager 8.x license key will work with VLSR 9.0 version and does not require an upgrade, but it needs to be reinstalled after the upgrade to version VLSR 9.0.

If the license shows as expired after upgrading to VLSR 9.0 version assign the license as below:

  1. Log in to the vSphere Client.
  2. Navigate to Administration > Licensing > Licenses.
  3. Select the Assets tab and click on Solutions.
  4. Locate VMware Live Site Recovery in the list.
  5. Click Assign License and select your existing SRM 8.x license key.

Additional Information

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