Split VMware License keys in Broadcom support portal
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Split VMware License keys in Broadcom support portal

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Article ID: 405972

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Updated On:

Products

Support Portal Support Portal & Access Issues VMware vCenter Server VMware vCenter Server 8.0 VMware vSphere ESX 8.x VMware vSphere ESX 7.x VMware vSphere ESXi VMware vSAN 8.x VMware vSAN 7.x VMware Aria Suite VMware Aria Operations (formerly vRealize Operations) 8.x VMware Cloud Foundation VMware vSphere Foundation

Issue/Introduction

This article details the process of splitting VMware License keys on the Broadcom support portal. For instructions on merging licenses, refer to Merge VMware License keys

Important notes:

  • Only users with Split & Merge License Keys permissions can Split and Merge license keys.

  • Self-service options such as merging, splitting, upgrading, or downgrading license keys are unavailable for expired contracts.

  • NFR (Not for Resale) licenses shall only be used for Partner test, demo, and development purposes, as specifically authorized by your partner agreement. Partners are not permitted to perform license operations (merge/split/upgrade/downgrade) on NFRs with non-NFR licenses obtained from VMware. Use of NFRs in any production and end user environment is strictly prohibited.

Environment

Broadcom support portal
vCenter 7.0.x, 8.0.x
ESXi 7.0.x, 8.0.x
vSAN 7.x, 8.x
Aria Suite 8.14
VCF 9.x, VVF 9.x

Resolution

To Split the VMware license keys, follow these steps:

Table of Contents

Accessing the License Keys

  1. Log in to the Support portal and navigate to My Dashboard.
  2. From My Entitlements, select the product for which you want to merge or split the license.
  3. Click on the License badge Icon.

Refer to Accessing VMware License folders and keys on the Broadcom support portal

Steps to Split the license key

  1. Select the desired key, then click the 3-dot icon (⋮) and choose "Split License."




  2. Choose the number of new keys.
    Note: The product must be of quantity above 1'

  3. Accept that you have read and understood the Warning of the Split action, then click Continue.

  4. The newly Split license keys will be displayed immediately, marked with a "New" badge.

Example: Splitting a vCenter License Key

  • If you have a vCenter license key with 32 instances and wish to split it into two keys (one for 1 instance and another for 31 instances), Enter quantities as shown below.
  • This action will generate two new vCenter license keys: one with 1 instance and another with 31 instances. The original 32-instance key will become inactive.
      • vCenter license keys are version-specific, meaning keys for v8 are not compatible with v7, and vice versa.
      • If you have a v8 key and require a v7 key, you can either split the existing key and then downgrade one of the new keys. Refer to Upgrade and Downgrade VMware License Keys. Or while downgrading the license key, you can choose required quantity to version 7 and remaining quantity will stay in version 8.

Note: While splitting the key, it is important to ensure that you include complete quantity.
For example, taking the above screenshot, 32 quantity of vCenter Server license key has to be split completely like 1 and 31 and remaining quantity shows as 0, only then system will allow to split the keys. If the complete quantity has not chosen and you have entered 30 and 1 quantity, there will be some units available is remaining, then split will error stating total unites has to be allocated.

Example: Splitting a vSphere License Key

  • Before performing the split of vSphere license key, please note that ESXi Host will accept only one license key. You will have to verify the number of Processor Sockets and Cores per socket on each host and you may refer the article Counting Cores for VMware Cloud Foundation and vSphere Foundation and TiBs for vSAN.
  • Once you have verified the physical cores on the Host, please perform the split ensuring that you enter the complete license quantity to split the license key.
  • If you have a vSpehre license key with 264 Core and wish to split it into three keys (one for a 64 core host, a second for a 48 core host and another for a 152 core host), Enter quantities as shown below.


Additional Information

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