Getting started with VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) or VMware vSphere Foundation (VVF) V9 Licensing
Article ID: 437242
Updated On:
Products
Issue/Introduction
This article explains how to get started with VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) or VMware vSphere Foundation (VVF) V9+ licensing.
Environment
VCF Operations 9.x; vCenter Server 9.x
vSphere ESXi 9.x; vSAN 9.x; VMware vSphere Foundation; VMware Cloud Foundation; VMware vSphere Foundation 9; VMware Cloud Foundation 9
Resolution
Overview
Starting with version 9.0 of VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) and VMware vSphere Foundation (vSphere Foundation), you license your environment by using a VCF Operations instance and the VMware Cloud Foundation Business Services console (vcf.broadcom.com). Subscription-based license files replace the use of the 25-character license keys. You do not need to upgrade your prior license keys. Learn More
Pre-requisites - Start with VCF Operations Version 9
1. You must have purchased an entitlement (subscription) that is eligible to use version 9+.
2. You must have permission to do licensing in your site ID.
You do not need to upgrade your prior license keys.
Step 1 - Start with VCF Operations Version 9
Licenses are managed and applied in VCF Operations. To begin, install VCF Operations using the VMware Cloud Foundation Installer. The installer can be downloaded from support.broadcom.com -> My Downloads. For more information, see Deployment, Convergence, and Upgrade.
If you are already using VMware Aria Operations, you can upgrade to VCF Operations V9. For more information, see Upgrade VMware Aria Operations to VCF Operations 9.0.
Step 2 - Register VCF Operations & Allocate License Capacity
VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) Operations is a centralized management platform for private clouds, offering unified visibility, monitoring, lifecycle management, and security compliance across deployments. After install or upgrade, VCF Operations works in evaluation mode for up to 90 days after deployment or upgrade, during which you must register VCF Operations in the VCF Business Services console. To start registration, go to your installed VCF Operations instance.
During registration, you will select the licenses to use in this environment. When you first start, all of your purchased cores will pool together into a single default license allocation per product (e.g. VCF or vSphere Foundation). You will also have a corresponding license for vSAN TiBs. If you are going use more than one VCF Operations instance, use the vertical-ellipsis “⋮” to split your default license (one license allocation cannot be used in two different VCF Operations instances). The cores allocated in this step will determine the upper limit that can be used in this environment. If you are not sure how many cores you will use, don’t worry, this can be changed later.
Video: Register your VCF Operations instance with the VCF Business Services console
- Connected Mode: If VCF Operations can connect to the Internet, see Register VCF Operations in Connected Mode.
- Disconnected Mode: If VCF Operations is in a dark-site or cannot connect, see Register VCF Operations in Disconnected Mode.
Step 3 - Download the License File
Starting with version 9.0, license keys are no longer used. Instead, when completing the registration you will get a license file. If you select one or multiple license allocations, they will all be downloaded in a single license file.
- Connected Mode: After registration you will receive an activation code that, when pasted into VCF Operations, automatically starts the license file download.
- Disconnected Mode: After registration you will receive a license file that can be imported into your VCF Operations instance.
Step 4 - Assign your License to vCenter instances
Once the vCenter is assigned a license, all other components (ESX, NSX, VCF Automation, etc.) become automatically licensed.
1. Add your vCenter to VCF Operations. See Configuring a vCenter Account in VCF Operations for details.
2. Assign licenses to your vCenter instances. See Assign a Primary License to a vCenter Instance.
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