vCenter Server reverts to evaluation license after upgrade to 8.0 U3.

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

• After upgrading the vCenter to 8.0 U3 by default Evaluation licenses is assigned to it. 
• Later, License was added to the vCenter however it was still point to evaluation license and below warning is present in the vSphere UI.
  • "There are expired or expiring licenses in your inventory."

Environment

• vCenter Server Appliance

Cause

The new license is added to the vCenter inventory however it is not assigned to the vCenter Instance.

• After the upgrade was completed, evaluation license has been assigned to the vCenter. 
  • From /var/log/vmware/cis-license/license.log
    • YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ invocation-vmomi-executor-2 operationID=LicenseUtilRunOnTimer-37389e7  INFO  server.core.oldmanagement.vmomi.LicenseAssignmentManagerMoImpl queryAssignedLicensesEx result: [
{7e3582b1-####-####-b345-########e1372
 product: {VMware VirtualCenter Server, 8.0}
 fileVersion: 8.0.4.1
 name: vCenter FQDN
 cost: 1
 license: {00000-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-00000 vcEval name: 'Evaluation Mode'}
}
      
      
• A license was added to the vCenter.
  • From /var/log/vmware/cis-license/license.log
    • YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ invocation-vmomi-executor-1 operationID=dec###b-####-####-####-6af####90b  INFO  server.core.management.vmomi.SystemManagementServiceMoImpl addLicenses result: [
License urn:vri:com.vmware.license.license:7e3582b1-####-####-b345-########e1372
 name: '<User Defined License friendly name>'
 expiration: YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ
 serialKeys: <License Key>
 restrictions: [
    LicenseProductRestrictionImpl
     product: {'VMware VirtualCenter Server8.0vc.standard.instanceserver' name: 'vCenter Server 8 Standard'}
     costUnitsLimit: [{server, limit: 176, enforcementType: hardEnforced}]
      
      
• This license was never assigned to the vCenter instance.
  • From /var/log/vmware/cis-license/license.log
    • YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ invocation-vmomi-executor-1 operationID=dec###b-####-####-####-6af####90b  INFO  server.core.management.vmomi.SystemManagementServiceMoImpl searchLicenseUtilizations result: [
LicenseUtilizationImpl 
usage: [
    ProductUsageImpl
     costUnitsUsage: [{server, usage: 0}]
     productId: 'VMware VirtualCenter Server8.0vc.standard.instanceserver'
    ]
 license: {urn:vri:com.vmware.license.license:7e3582b1-####-####-b345-########e1372 name: '<User Defined License friendly name>' [<License Key>}
 isLicenseAssigned: false,
LicenseUtilizationImpl
      
      
• And later the license was assigned to the vCenter.
  • From /var/log/vmware/cis-license/license.log
    • YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ invocation-vmomi-executor-1 operationID=dec###b-####-####-####-6af####90b  INFO  server.core.management.vmomi.SystemManagementServiceMoImpl searchLicenseUtilizations result: [
LicenseUtilizationImpl
usage: [
    ProductUsageImpl
     costUnitsUsage: [{server, usage: 1}]
     productId: 'VMware VirtualCenter Server8.0vc.standard.instanceserver'
    ]
 license: {urn:vri:com.vmware.license.license:7e3582b1-####-####-b345-########e1372 name: '<User Defined License friendly name>' [<License Key>}
 isLicenseAssigned: true

Resolution

This is by design. Major version upgrades (e.g., from 7.x to 8.x) require a new license edition compatible with the target version. To resolve the warning, you must manually assign the license to the vCenter Server asset.

Steps to Assign the License,

• Log in to the vSphere Client.
• Navigate to Administration > Licensing > Licenses.
• Ensure your vCenter Server 8 Standard/Essential license is added under the Licenses tab.
• Switch to the Assets tab and select vCenter Server Systems.
• Select the vCenter Server instance and click Assign License.
• Select the appropriate license from the list and click OK.

Additional Information

How to Assign a License to Multiple Assets in Your vSphere Environment