Renew free license for VMware ESXi 6.5 after power failure

[einarssonm]

I have a lab server with VMware ESXi 6.5.0, that has been running for 3+ years. After a power failure it starts up, but any attempt to start an existing VM results in the following error message:

  Failed to power on virtual machine VM_NAME. License key has expired. Click here for more details.

The only license key that I have been able to access in the My VMware portal is for "VMware vSphere Hypervisor 7". I have tried to apply that license key to my 6.5.0 server, but it's not accepted.

Any hints?

/ Markus

[IRIX201110141]

You need a vSphere ESXi Hypervisor 6 license key. It the "free" one but i´am not sure if VMware generate "new" keys for old software today.

Regards,
Joerg

[einarssonm]

Yes, I guess that's what I need. I don't understand why the license key is needed now, since the initial license activation should be perpetual.

/ Markus

[Scott Vessey]

Try this: VMware Knowledge Base

[einarssonm]

Thanks! I visited "VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.7 Download Center". With my normal VMware account I got the error message "You either are not entitled or do not have permissions to download this product.". When using an older VMware account I could access the download links and a license key for 6.x. Strange, but it works!

[Steveorevo]

This link does not apply to VMware ESXi 6.5, nor does it apply to the topic "after power failure"

[Scott Vessey]

It used to when the 6.x versions were supported. Now they’re not supported, hence the article has been updated for 7.0 and 8.0.

[ashiqullah1990]

hello my VMware license key has expired cane you send me the new one please.

[a_p_]

License keys usually don't expire.

If you have an issue, please do not reply to an old thread, but open a new discussion, and provide details.

André