> On Apr 15, 2024, at 16:40, Kevin A. McGrail via mailop <mailop@mailop.org> > wrote: > > Hi All, > > We have four servers where we can't retrieve our free ESXi VMWare license > after Broadcom shut things down and they are in evaluation mode for about 30 > more days. > > Does any one have any advice? Is there a product we can buy? Is there an > alternative you've been switching over to using? Anyone have a spare license > we can use?
This was especially obnoxious of them, because normally your license key for the “free” ESXI, which was useful if you just wanted a standalone box in a closet to run a few things, lived in VMWare customer connect. Your need for things like VCenter came in when you wanted a central control plane, or access to features like VMotion. And now, not only have they not removed access to the ISOs, but license keys that they *gave to you* are magically disappeared. Those licenses would still work — vmware machines do not “phone home” in any way. The features are coded into the license key itself. Put another way: you should not have to rely on data-hoarding screenshots of the management UI to get what you were already granted. -Dan _______________________________________________ mailop mailing list mailop@mailop.org https://list.mailop.org/listinfo/mailop
