Access to VMware Site Recovery Manager for Existing VMware Cloud Foundation and VMware vSphere Foundation Subscription Customers
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Access to VMware Site Recovery Manager for Existing VMware Cloud Foundation and VMware vSphere Foundation Subscription Customers

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Article ID: 461219

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Updated On:

Products

VMware Site Recovery Manager VMware vSphere Foundation VMware Cloud Foundation

Issue/Introduction

Packaging Update. As of November 2, 2026, VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM)—formerly VMware Live Site Recovery (VLSR)—is no longer sold standalone. SRM is now included in VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) and VMware vSphere Foundation (VVF). All existing active VCF and VVF subscription customers are entitled to SRM. 

Options to Utilize VMware Site Recovery Manager. To utilize VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM), existing VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) or VMware vSphere Foundation (VVF) subscription customers can choose one of the two options: 

  1. Wait for VCF/VVF 9.1.3 (available between February 2027 - April 2027): The VCF/VVF 9.1.3 release will automatically include SRM entitlement in existing VCF/VVF subscriptions. Upon the release, existing VCF/VVF
    subscription customers must have Protection and Recovery appliance version 9.1.3 and vCenter version 9.1+ to utilize SRM.

  2. Obtain a term-limited SRM license key: Since VCF/VVF 9.1.3 release has not launched yet and, therefore, cannot automatically include SRM entitlement in existing VCF/VVF subscriptions, existing VCF/VVF subscription
    customers needing immediate SRM capabilities can obtain a term-limited SRM license key from the Support Portal. When VCF/VVF 9.1.3 becomes available, customers must upgrade their Protection and Recovery appliance to version 9.1.3 and vCenter to version 9.1+ before the license key expiration date to maintain service continuity. 

Note: Customers who purchased subscriptions to the new VCF or VVF packaging as new, renewal, or capacity expansion on/after November 2, 2026 are to disregard the options above as SRM is automatically included in the new VCF/VVF subscriptions.

Environment

Eligibility. All existing VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) or VMware vSphere Foundation (VVF) subscription customers are entitled to VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM) as laid out in the following scenarios: 

  1. Existing active VCF/VVF subscriptions customers who do not have SRM and want SRM 
  2. Existing active VCF/VVF subscriptions customers who have SRM/VLSR and want to renew their SRM/VLSR
  3. Existing active VCF/VVF subscriptions customers who have SRM/VLSR and want to expand SRM/VLSR capacity

Ineligible Licenses. Customers with perpetual VMware Cloud Foundation licenses, with or without active Support and Subscription (SnS), are not entitled to utilize VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM) detailed above. Customers must purchase VMware Cloud Foundation or VMware vSphere Foundation subscriptions to utilize SRM.

Resolution

License Key. The term-limited VMware Site Recovery Manager license key supports up to 10,000 protected virtual machines and expires on May 2, 2027. The key is located under "My Downloads" in the Support Portal (not the Licensing Portal). To successfully deploy the term-limited SRM license key, refer to the Interoperability Compatibility Matrix and KB article regarding Invalid license key error when applying the SRM license key - VMware Site Recovery Manager for the minimum supported vCenter and Protection and Recovery appliances versions.

Limitations. The term-limited VMware Site Recovery Manager license key cannot be split, combined, upgraded, or downgraded. 

Support. Existing VMware Cloud Foundation and VMware vSphere Foundation subscription customers can submit a ticket via https://support.broadcom.com/ under "VMware vCenter Server" > "Protection and Recovery". 

Obtaining the License Key and Software. Existing active VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) or VMware vSphere Foundation (VVF) subscription customers needing VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM) before the VCF/VVF 9.1.3 launch can obtain the term-limited key as outlined below: 

  1. Log into the support portal and select the “My Downloads” tab on the left-hand side. 
  2. Navigate to “VMware Cloud Foundation” or “VMware vSphere Foundation”. 
  3. Select “VMware Cloud Foundation 9” or “VMware vSphere Foundation 9”.




  4. Select version 9.1 or above. 



  5. Search for “Protection and Recovery”, then click “View Group”.
  6. Click “View Group” under “Protection and Recovery (incl. Replication, Disaster Recovery)” to download the software bits.
  7. Click “View Group” under “Protection and Recovery (Key)” to download the PDF file that contains the term-limited license key.

Terms and Conditions. The term-limited license VMware Site Recovery Manager key must be strictly for Customer’s active subscriptions to VMware Cloud Foundation or VMware vSphere Foundation, and subject to all terms outlined in the Foundation Agreement and the VMware Cloud Foundation or VMware vSphere Foundation Specific Product Documentation found on https://www.broadcom.com/company/legal/licensing

Additional Information

Frequently Asked Questions. 

Q: What happens to my SRM deployment after May 2, 2027 if I don’t upgrade? 

A: The May 2, 2027 expiration date factors in the time for existing active VCF and VVF subscription customers to implement their Protection and Recovery appliance to 9.1.3 and vCenter to 9.1+ to avoid their disaster recovery functionalities ceasing to function. 

Q: How can customers split or combine their existing SRM license keys with the term-limited SRM license key they obtained from the Support Portal? 

A: Since the term-limited SRM license key obtained from the Support Portal cannot be split or combined, customers must replace their existing license key(s) with the term-limited SRM license key they obtained from the Support Portal in the vCenter. 

Q: How can customers deploy their existing SRM license keys with the SRM license key obtained from the Support Portal in the same SRM pair? 

A: Since the term-limited SRM license key obtained from the Support Portal cannot be split or combined, customers must replace their existing license key(s) with the term-limited SRM license key they obtained from the Support Portal in the vCenter. 

Q: How can customers upgrade or downgrade the SRM license key obtained from the Support Portal? 

A: The term-limited SRM license key obtained from the Support Portal cannot be upgraded or downgraded. The license key obtained from the Support Portal is version 8.1, which works on all supported SRM versions.

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