Command Line: Vcenter License Key

Managing vCenter license keys via the command line is a critical skill for administrators looking to automate deployments or maintain environments without relying on the vSphere Client. While VMware (now Broadcom) primarily emphasizes the GUI for licensing, you can perform these tasks efficiently using VMware PowerCLI or by interacting with the vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA) API. Managing Licenses with PowerCLI

PowerCLI is the most powerful tool for CLI-based license management. It allows you to add keys to the vCenter inventory and then assign them to specific assets like the vCenter Server itself or ESXi hosts. 1. Adding a License Key to the Inventory

To add a new key to your vCenter Server’s central repository, use the following snippet to access the LicenseManager: powershell

# Connect to your vCenter Connect-VIServer -Server "://example.com" -User "Administrator@vsphere.local" -Password "YourPassword" # Access the License Manager $vCenter = Get-VIServer -Server "://example.com" $licenseManager = Get-View $vCenter.ExtensionData.Content.LicenseManager # Add the new license key $licenseManager.AddLicense("XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX", "Optional Label") Use code with caution.

Note: Using AddLicense only puts the key in the "Available" pool. You must still assign it to an asset to activate it. 2. Assigning the Key to vCenter Server vcenter license key command line

Once the key is in the inventory, you can assign it to the vCenter instance itself using the LicenseAssignmentManager. How to Manage vCenter and ESXi License Keys via PowerCLI

Managing vCenter license keys via the command line is primarily achieved through VMware PowerCLI

, rather than the standard vCenter Server Appliance (vCSA) local bash shell. While the vSphere Client is the standard graphical method, command-line tools are essential for bulk operations and automation. virtualizationdojo.com Primary Command Line Methods PowerCLI (Recommended)

: This is the most robust command-line method for managing licenses across your environment. View Licenses Get-VCLicense (for PowerCLI 6.5+) or Get-License Managing vCenter license keys via the command line

for older versions to see license keys, editions, and expiration dates. Check Status Get-VCLicense -Status provides details on licensed and used CPUs. List Host Keys Get-VMHost | Select Name, LicenseKey to see keys assigned to individual ESXi hosts. Automation : Experts like William Lam

provide scripts to automate adding licenses with custom labels. vcenter_license

module allows you to programmatically add or remove license keys from a vCenter instance. Spiceworks Community ESXi Host vs. vCenter Licensing

It is important to distinguish between licensing an individual host and the vCenter Server itself: Standalone ESXi Hosts : You can directly set a license key using the utility via SSH: Set License vim-cmd vimsvc/license --set=XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX View License vim-cmd vimsvc/license --show Managed Hosts Report: Managing vCenter Server License Keys via Command

: Once a host is managed by vCenter, it is recommended to use the vSphere Client

or PowerCLI to ensure the vCenter inventory remains synchronized. Broadcom TechDocs Key Considerations VMWARE VCenter en Vsphere evaluation mode license.

Report: Managing vCenter Server License Keys via Command Line

Step 2: View Existing Licenses

To list all license keys installed on vCenter:

Get-VMLicense

This returns Key, Name (e.g., vSphere 7 Enterprise Plus), and Total (number of available CPU licenses).

5. Unassign a License

Remove a license from a specific asset without deleting the license key:

vcenter.license.unassign --asset Host --asset-id <Host_UUID>

Find a host’s UUID:

vcenter.host.list

Prerequisites

• Access: SSH access to the VCSA or a workstation with vSphere CLI installed.
• Permissions: Global LicenseService privileges (usually Administrator@vsphere.local).
• Session: If using vCLI, connect first:

  vcsa-util connect --server <vCenter_FQDN> --username administrator@vsphere.local