Reset VMware ESXi 4.

1 Trial License Period

MON-2011-07-18 48 COMMENTS
To reset the VMware ESXi 4.1 trial license period without re-installing your hos
t, do the following:
At the console; login
Enable Local Tech Support Mode
Press Alt-F1 to get to the login prompt
Login as root
cd /etc/vmware
rm-r vmware.lic
rm-r license.cfg
reboot
services.sh -restart (thanks esxi)
If you have this ESXi host in a cluster, remove it and then add it again using a
Evaluation Mode
Now you can enjoy another 60 days of full featured evaluation!
----------reboot is not needed!
----------also works on esxi 5

services.sh -restart is enough

I followed this procedure and the vmware.lic file never re-created on ESXi 5.1 I m
at a lose now because now vSphere Client says
License Period Expired. However the VMs are still running and accessible but I m a
fraid to reboot the host.
Also one minor point for 5.1 there is now in front of restart It s just services.sh
restart.
Does it matter that I did this from the SSH terminal rather than the console usi
ng F1? Please help
DuH . should have read further down for 5.1 swap services.sh for reboot exit
Thanks all..
----------If the server is managed by vCenter, discconnect it before the remove/restart an
d connect it afterwards.
That will retain all the VMID whereas a Delete/Add assigns all new.
----------I had to make these changes to your commands
Login as root
cd /etc/vmware
rm -r vmware.lic
rm -r license.cfg
services.sh restart
outcome was great, thanks!!!
----------With 5.1 I did the following:
Login as root
cd /etc/vmware
rm -r vmware.lic
rm -r license.cfg
reboot

did not restart services, just reboot. Worked Great!

----------This worked for me too.
I have ESXi v 5.0.0U1 (ESXi 5.0 Update 1
2012-03-15)
Remeber to gracefully shutdown all VMs into EXSi before using this.
----------This method used for ESXi 4.1 and ESXi 5.0 does not work on ESXi 5.1 if it is a
fresh install.
After trying it, the license.cfg file is recreated, but not with the propper key
s. The vmware.lic file is not recreated.
After vSphere reconnects, message shows license has expired.
To work around this:
Using PuTTY, extended the trial on an ESXi 5.0 machine as described in this blog
.
Did not delete the vmware.lic file on the ESXi 5.1 machine.
Edited the license.cfg file using vi editor on ESXi 5.1 machine.
Copy contents from 5.0 > 5.1 license.cfg file.
Restart ESXi 5.1 with services.sh restart.
The trial expiration date on the ESXi 5.1 machine is not the same as the ESXi 5.
0 machine.
***
I d like to confirm that Anony Mous' method works. I did delete the vmware.lic befor
e I tried his method though before I read that he said not to.
I did use an ESX 5.0 host to generate a new vmware.lic license.cfg file
I used winscp to copy the vmware.lic file to the 5.1 server (since I deleted it
earlier)
I then opened the license.cfg file on the 5.1 server and pasted the contents fro
m the 5.0 license.cfg host in it.
services.sh restart and it allowed me to add it to vcenter.
Feel free to reply to this as I have subscribed to follow-up comments.
----------Tried the following commands for ESXi 5.1 build 1065491 and 1117900
rm -r /etc/vmware/license.cfg
cp /etc/vmware/.#license.cfg /etc/vmware/license.cfg
/etc/init.d/vpxa restart