Unable to configure VMs in Protection Group, Error - "Operation Error: Subscription is not available or has expired. Unable to protect VM '#########' with IO filter 'vmwarelwd' for device with key '2000' as this action requires active subscription."

Products

• VMware Live Recovery

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• On configuring VM for protection below error appears
  
  

Error - Operation Failed

Operation Error: Subscription is not available or has expired. Unable to protect VM '#########' with IO filter 'vmwarelwd' for device with key '2000' as this action requires active subscription.

• Site Recovery manager License is configured with Evaluation License key
  
  Note: To check use vCenter Licenses > Assets > Solutions.
  
  

Environment

VMware Live Recovery

Cause

 The problem will arise for the reasons listed below.

1. Multiple SRM solutions found under vCenter Licenses > Assets > Solutions.
   
   
   
   
2. Improper license key assigned to the SRM solution.
3. Insufficient license assigned to the SRM solution.
4. SRM solution is still running with an evaluation key (Appropriate license key is still not assigned to SRM solution).
5. During an upgrade to a different version, for example: Site Recovery Manager 8.8.0.3 to Site Recovery Manager 9.0 Site Recovery Manager reverts to an evaluation license.
6. If SRM server are newly deployed it will run on evaluation key by default.

From the below logs, var/log/vmware/srm/vmware-dr.log

####-##-##T##:##:##.###Z info vmware-dr[04292] [SRM@6876 sub=DrServiceInstance] Event Id: 'com.vmware.vcDr.UnlicensedFeatureEvent'
####-##-##T##:##:##.###Z info vmware-dr[04339] [SRM@6876 sub=vmomi.soapStub[5]] SOAP request returned HTTP failure; <SSL(<io_obj t:N7Vmacore6System19TCPSocketObjectAsioE, h:27, <TCP '##.###.##.### : 40782'>, <TCP '##.###.##.### : 443'>>), /ls/sdk>, method: searchAssets; code: 500(Internal Server Error); fault: (cis.license.fault.NotFoundFault) {
-->          key = "cis.license.error.management.AssetNotFound",
--> (cis.license.fault.NotFoundFault) {
-->          key = "cis.license.error.management.AssetNotFound",
####-##-##T##:##:##.###Z info vmware-dr[04337] [SRM@6876 sub=Licensing] Updating SRM to license key '00000-#####-#####-####0-00000'.
####-##-##T##:##:##.###Z info vmware-dr[04345] [SRM@6876 sub=Licensing] Adding new license to SRM asset.
####-##-##T##:##:##.###Z info vmware-dr[04337] [SRM@6876 sub=Licensing] SRM now using license key: '00000-#####-#####-####0-00000' (Edition: 'srm.eval.vm', Capacity: 75)
####-##-##T##:##:##.###Z info vmware-dr[04340] [SRM@6876 sub=Licensing ctxID=ohquo] Cloud license assigned locally (false).
####-##-##T##:##:##.###Z verbose vmware-dr[04340] [SRM@6876 sub=PropertyProvider ctxID=ohquo] RecordOp ASSIGN: licenseTypeInfo, DrLicenseManager. Applied change to temp map.
####-##-##T##:##:##.###Z info vmware-dr[04337] [SRM@6876 sub=Licensing] The evaluation license expires in 60 day(s).
####-##-##T##:##:##.###Z info vmware-dr[04338] [SRM@6876 sub=Licensing ctxID=log8w] Initializing with license key: '00000-#####-#####-####0-00000' (Edition: 'srm.eval.vm', Capacity: 75)

-->                type = "com.vmware.cis.cs.license.sdk",
-->                type = "com.vmware.cis.cs.license.sdk",
####-##-##T##:##:##.###Z info vmware-dr[04347] [SRM@6876 sub=Licensing ctxID=1pmzx] Cloud license assigned remotely (false).
-->                type = "com.vmware.cis.cs.license.sdk",
####-##-##T##:##:##.###Z error vmware-dr[09482] [SRM@6876 sub=Licensing] Unable to find license type for local site uuid 620cd9a5-fb25-4d34-bac3-31b20fa1b42b in remote list of license types
####-##-##T##:##:##.###Z info vmware-dr[09487] [SRM@6876 sub=Licensing ctxID=1pmzx] Cloud license assigned remotely (false).
####-##-##T##:##:##.###Z info vmware-dr[09486] [SRM@6876 sub=Licensing opID=mr28k-waitForUpdatesEx] [52992] Setting LicenseManager.asset.assignedKey to the license info2025-09-11T23:48:46.096Z info vmware-dr[04356] [SRM@6876 sub=Licensing ctxID=1pmzx] Cloud license assigned remotely (false).

+ SRM is operating with an evaluation license key that will expire in 60 days, as indicated by the log events highlighted in yellow.

Resolution

To address the concerned issue, ensure the valid license key is assigned to the Site Recovery Manager solution in vCenter Server for protecting the virtual machines on both production and disaster recovery site. 

To assign the key to the Site Recovery Manager:

1. In the vSphere Client, select Home > Administration > Licensing.
2. Click the Assets tab.
3. Click Solutions session.
4. Identify and select the SRM extension.
5. In the All-Actions Menu, select Assign License.
6. In the Assign License window, select an appropriate license key and click Next.