Vmware* Virtualcenter* Server Editions; Vmware* Virtualcenter* And Esxi* Licensing Model; Single-Host And Centralized License Types - Intel S5000PAL Installation Manual

VMware* VirtualCenter* Server Editions

At least one instance of a VMware* VirtualCenter* license is required for VI Foundation*, VI Standard*, and
VI Enterprise* editions. The following VMware VirtualCenter editions are available:
VMware* VirtualCenter Foundation* – Manages up to three ESX hosts. To manage more than three
hosts, upgrade to VirtualCenter edition.
VMware* VirtualCenter* – An enterprise-level edition that manages up-to-the-system-maximum
number of hosts in combination with VMware Server hosts. For information about system maximums,
see Configuration Maximums for VMware Infrastructure 3 in the VMware ESXi 3.5 Installable Setup
Guide available from the VMware* website.
VirtualCenter editions require flex, centralized license files. The VirtualCenter Foundation edition can be
converted to the VirtualCenter edition by adding an appropriate license file and switching the editions. The
software does not need to be reinstalled. For information about converting the editions, see To configure
centralized licensing for VirtualCenter in the VMware ESXi 3.5 Installable Setup Guide available from the
VMware website.
The VirtualCenter Express* edition can be converted to the VirtualCenter Full* edition by adding an
appropriate license file and switching the editions. The software does not need to be re-installed. For
information on switching between the editions, see "Centralized VMware* Licensing" on page 12.

VMware* VirtualCenter* and ESXi* Licensing Model

The standalone edition of VMware* ESXi* 3.5 performs most operations. To use some advanced operations,
you can use the evaluation mode or you can purchase an upgraded license.
VMware* VirtualCenter*, with the exception of the evaluation mode, requires a software license for most
operations, such as adding hosts to the VirtualCenter inventory. However, VirtualCenter version 2.5 can be
installed, launched, and configured without a software license.
Two modes of licensing are available: single-host and centralized. Both single-host and centralized licenses
are based on FLEXnet* mechanisms. A flex license is either served (centralized) or unserved (single host).

Single-Host and Centralized License Types

For single-host licenses, the serial number or license files are stored on individual ESXi hosts. Centralized
licenses are stored on a license server, which makes these licenses available to one or more hosts. A mixed
environment can be run to employ both single-host and centralized licensing.
VirtualCenter and features that require VirtualCenter, such as VMotion*, must have centralized licensing.
VMware ESXi 3.5 specific features can be licensed for either centralized or single-host licensing.
VMware* Infrastructure* 3 Installation Guide for VMware* ESXi* 3.5 Installable –
Intel® Server Board S5000PAL
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