ESXi host remains in evaluation mode after license assignment

Products

VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

An ESXi host remains in evaluation mode after successfully assigning a license key through the host's web interface. The license assignment process completes without errors and shows a success message. However, the host continues to show evaluation mode status in the Manage → Licensing tab. The license key shows as a string of zeros (0s).

This occurs when the assigned license's core capacity is less than the host's total CPU core count. The license applies successfully but the host cannot exit evaluation mode. The issue affects both standalone ESXi hosts and vCenter-managed hosts running vSphere 7.x or 8.x.

Additional symptoms reported:

Host stays in evaluation mode even after license successfully assigned
License key is successfully applied but host remains in evaluation period

Environment

ESXi 7.x and newer, standalone host or vCenter-managed host
The assigned license core capacity is less than the host's total CPU core count

Cause

The assigned license key has a core capacity that is less than the total CPU (Central Processing Unit) core count of the ESXi host. VMware vSphere licensing requires that the license core capacity must equal or exceed the host's total CPU core count for the host to exit evaluation mode.

When assigning a license with insufficient core capacity, the license assignment process completes successfully. However, the host cannot activate the license because the core coverage requirement is not met. vSphere licensing also has a 16-core minimum requirement per host. This means even hosts with fewer than 16 cores require a minimum 16-core license.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, verify the core count mismatch and obtain a license with adequate core capacity:

Log in to the ESXi host's web interface and verify the host's total CPU core count. For instructions on determining core count, see KB 313548.
Navigate to Manage > Licensing and review the assigned license details to identify the license's core capacity.
Compare the license core capacity to the host's total CPU core count. The license must provide core capacity equal to or greater than the host's CPU core count, with a minimum of 16 cores.
Request a new license key from your licensing authority or procurement team that meets or exceeds the host's core count requirement (minimum 16 cores).
In the ESXi host's web interface, navigate to Manage > Licensing, click Assign license, enter the new license key, click Check license to verify validity, then click Assign license to apply it to the host.
Verify that the host has exited evaluation mode by checking the Licensing tab. The license key should show as the assigned key (not zeros) and evaluation mode status should no longer appear.

Additional Information

For more information about core counting and licensing requirements, see Counting Cores for VMware Cloud Foundation and vSphere Foundation.