Impact of vCenter / ESXi license expiration

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi
• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

This KB talks about what happens when vCenter / ESXi license expires.

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 7.0.x
VMware vCenter Server 8.0.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0
VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0

Resolution

ESXi host license expires,

• The host gets disconnected  in vSphere Clinet.
• Virtual machines on this host get disconnected on vSphere Clinet as well.
• Therefore, no action an be performed on the host and its virtual machines since all of them are disconnected.
• Accessing to the host UI (connecting to this host's IP address directly from browser) is ok
• Running virtual machines can be still used, but the virtual machine that were previously shut down can not be powered on
• Creating a virtual machine is ok, but powering on it will be failed.

vCenter license expires,

• All hosts and their virtual machines get disconnected on vSphere Clinet.
• Removing a host from vCenter is ok, but adding a host to the vCenter will be failed.