Vcenter License Key Command Line Official
VMware vCenter Server is a central management platform for virtualized environments, and proper license management is critical for compliance and functionality. While the vSphere Client (web interface) offers a graphical method for license management, advanced administrators often turn to the command line for efficiency, automation, and troubleshooting. This essay explores the primary command-line tools and methods used to manage vCenter Server license keys, focusing on the VMware vSphere Command-Line Interface (vCLI) and PowerCLI.
$licenseManager.UpdateLicense("XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX", $null)
vim-cmd vimsvc/license --set 00000-00000-00000-00000-00000 vcenter license key command line
Note: If successful, the command returns the new license type (e.g., "vSphere 7 Enterprise Plus").
$hostsOnOldLicense = Get-VMHost | Where-Object $_.LicenseKey -eq $oldKey VMware vCenter Server is a central management platform
Write-Host "Adding new license key: $newKey" $newLicense = Add-VMLicense -LicenseKey $newKey
| Task | PowerCLI Command | ESXi Shell Command (vim-cmd) | ESXCLI Command |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Connect | Connect-VIServer | SSH to Host IP | SSH to Host IP |
| List Licenses | Get-License | vim-cmd vimsvc/license --show | esxcli software license list |
| Add License | Add-License -LicenseKey "KEY" | N/A (Set applies it) | esxcli software license add -k "KEY" |
| Apply License | Set-VMHost -LicenseKey "KEY" | vim-cmd vimsvc/license --set "KEY" | (Added license applies automatically) |
| Remove License | Remove-License | N/A | esxcli software license remove -k "KEY" | vim-cmd vimsvc/license --set 00000-00000-00000-00000-00000
If you need to remove a specific license and revert the host to Evaluation Mode (60 days), the vim-cmd does not have a direct "remove" switch. Instead, you typically re-apply the evaluation mode logic or re-install.
However, you can decode the current license status:
vim-cmd vimsvc/license --decode
