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VMware vSphere Essentials Kit - How does it work?

So we have a few ESXI 5.5 installations running the free license, which only allows 8vCPU's per VM, but we have one VM which needs more than that, and are looking to purchase the vSphere Essentials Kit, which states that:

"It includes 6 CPU licenses of vSphere Essentials (for 3 servers with up to 2 processors each) and 1 license for vCenter Server Essentials"

So to clarify, does that mean I can have 3 seperate servers, each with 2 physical processors licensed with full functionality (Can add as many vCPU's to my VM's as I want)?

Do these servers have to be on the same network? Or can we license unrelated servers at different locations with this Kit aswell?

Are we easily able to downgrade the 6.5 license to a 5.5 and then upgrade back to 6.5 if needed in future?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Dariusz Tyka

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Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

Just to add on the following:-

Are we easily able to downgrade the 6.5 license to a 5.5 and then upgrade back to 6.5 if needed in future?

You can downgrade the licenses to 5.5, but that's it, you've surrendered the 6.x licenses.

Later you would need to purchase 6.5 licenses if you wanted to use 6.x.

My advice, upgrade to 6.5. otherwise you've got double the cost.

Dariusz Tyka

Hi Andrew,

why do you states that after license is downgraded it can't be upgraded anymore? I can go up and down with Essential license at anytime. Have tried to do that twice and there were no problems t all.

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

Confirm with VMware!

It seems it can be done via the My VMware Portal during your Subscription Period.

tom_szabo

ASKER

Answered my questions perfectly, thanks :)