Note: If you have certificate issues, run Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore first. B. Viewing Current Licenses
( vim-cmd ): The native command-line interface available directly on an ESXi host, accessible via SSH. It is used to manage elements local to that specific host . This is ideal for managing the license for a standalone ESXi host or for troubleshooting license issues on a single host when vCenter access might be unavailable.
If your ESXi host evaluation has expired and vCenter won't start, use this on the SSH: vcenter license key command line
For a full script including credential handling, refer to Updating the VMware vCenter License Key using PowerCLI . 3. Assign a License to ESXi Hosts
If you are logged directly into the vCenter Server Appliance via SSH, you can use the internal configuration scripts. This is particularly useful for "break-glass" scenarios. Using the vim-cmd (Limited) It is used to manage elements local to that specific host
This comprehensive guide covers how to view, add, and assign your vCenter license keys using the vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA) command line. Prerequisites and Accessing the CLI
First, ensure you are connected to your vCenter Server using the vicli command. The basic syntax to connect is: Note: If you have certificate issues
In a large deployment, licensing 50 hosts manually in the GUI is tedious. The CLI simplifies this to a single line:
: PowerCLI allows you to apply a single license key to all hosts within a specific cluster in one command, rather than clicking through each host individually. Native vCSA Terminal Alternative