VMware Downloading and licensing vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi 6.x & 7.x)

 In this blog post, we will provide steps for VMware downloading and licensing vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi 6.x & 7.x). This is taken from the VMware KB article given here.

Downloading vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi 6.x & 7.x) 

To download and activate ESXi 6.x & 7.x:

  1. Navigate to the VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) Download Center.
  2. From the Select Version drop-down, select the version
  3. Click Download.
  4. If prompted, log in to your My VMware profile. If you do not have a profile, you must create one. For more information, see How to create a My VMware profile (2007005).
  5. Complete the VMware vSphere Hypervisor Registration form. After completion, an activation email is delivered to your inbox.
  6. Navigate to the activation email. If you did not receive the activation email:
    • Check the deleted/junk folders to see if you have accidentally deleted the activation email.
    • Search your spam folder to verify if your activation email has been incorrectly recognized as spam.
    • If none of these options work, file a Product Licensing or Account > Product Activation Support Request. For more information, see How to File a Support Request in My VMware (2006985).
  7. Click Activate your VMware ESXi License and access your download. This gives you the serial key for vSphere Hypervisor. You can also access your license key by following this link.
  8. Links for versions 6 and 7:  https://my.vmware.com/en/group/vmware/evalcenter?p=free-esxi6  
    https://my.vmware.com/en/group/vmware/evalcenter?p=free-esxi7                                                                                                       

Viewing the License for free Hypervisor (ESXi 6.x & 7.x)

 Viewing the License for free vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi 6.x & 7.x):

  1. Log in to My VMware.
  2. Click Products and select My Download History.
  3. Click under VMware vSphere Hypervisor to open the details of the product.
  4. Click View downloads and licenses. Alternatively, you can access your license key by following this link.

Licensing a vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi 6.0 or 7.0) host To license a standalone ESXi 6.0 (vSphere Hypervisor):

  1. Log in to the ESX/ESXi host using vSphere Client.
  2. Click the Configuration tab.
  3. Click Licensed Features under Software.
  4. Click Edit under Licensed Features.
  5. Select Assign a new license key to this host.
  6. Press Enter and enter the License Key.
  7. Click OK.

Licensing a vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi 6.5) host To license vSphere ESXi 6.5, use the vSphere Web Client:

  1. Enter the host’s IP address (https://<ip-of-your-host>/) into a supported browser and click Search.
  2. Log in to the ESX/ESXi host using your credentials.
  3. Click Administration > Licensing > Licenses.
  4. ClickAdd License Keys (+).
  5. Enter the license key in the text box.
  6. Click Next.
  7. Review the license keys and click Finish.

That’s all for this downloading and licensing VMware vSphere Hypervisors.

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