License Server Directory Support for Simplified License Management

The VirtualCenter 2.0.1 Patch 2 (and subsequent releases) installation process configures License Server to use a complete directory path, rather than the single vmware.lic file.

Upgrading an existing VirtualCenter Server instance to VirtualCenter 2.0.1 Patch 2 (or later), provides the benefit of the new license-handling configuration automatically, as long as you also upgrade the License Server. These instructions assume that the VirtualCenter Server has not been updated to the VirtualCenter 2.0.1 Patch 2 level (or later). If you have upgraded to VirtualCenter Server 2.0.1 Patch 2, including the License Server, disregard these instructions.

Using the Installer to Update License Server Configuration

• Download VirtualCenter 2.0.1 Patch 2 software update (or subsequent release).
• Unpack the download and validate the checksum.
• Locate the License Server installation component in the package. The VMware License Server installer is located in the bin directory of the unpacked download, as in:

bin\VMware-licenseserver.exe

• Double-click the executable to launch the VMware License Server installer. During the installation process, a ...Licenses directory will be created and your existing license file will be copied to the directory:
  
  C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware License Server\Licenses 

Manually Configuring License Server for Directory Support

If you don’t want to upgrade your existing License Server, you can manually modify the License Server configuration (by modifying the Windows Registry and making other necessary changes to enable License Server to use a directory. Remember that Microsoft always warns against modifying the Registry manually, however, so proceed with caution.

1. Create the license directory:
   
   C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware License Server\Licenses
   
2. Copy existing license files to the new ...\Licenses directory. By default, the existing license file should be located in one of two different directories, depending on the VirtualCenter Server version:
3. • VirtualCenter 2.0:    C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\VMware\VMware License Server\vmware.lic
   • VirtualCenter 2.0.1: C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware License Server\vmware.lic
4. Launch Windows Registry Editor (regedit) as follows:
5. • From the Windows Start menu, select Run...
   • Enter regedit in the Run dialog box, click OK to launch
6. Navigate to the Registry key containing the path to the license file. The Registry key is:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\FLEXlm License Manager\VMware License Server\License
   
7. Double-click on the License key to open the Edit String settings dialog box. The License key is likely set to:
   
   C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware License Server\vmware.lic
   
   
8. Set this key to the directory created in step 1, by highlighting the filename and carefully replacing it with the name of the directory. Be careful not to leave any trailing spaces, backslash, or other extraneous characters:
   
   C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware License Server\Licenses
   
   
9. Click OK to save the change, and exit the Registry Editor.

Restart the VMware License Server service:

• Navigate to the Services control panel (under the Administration menu).
• Find the VMware License Server service.
• Click Restart.

Adding New Licenses

Once you have configured the License Server to use the ...Licenses directory, you can add server-based licenses for new VMware products that you obtain by simply copying the server-based license file into the directory, and then restarting the License Server.

• Copy server-based license to the VMware License Server directory:
  
  C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware License Server\Licenses
  
• Navigate to the Services control panel (under the Administration menu).
• Find the VMware License Server service.
• Click Restart.