Vcenter — License Key Command Line

Managing vCenter license keys through the command line offers a powerful way to automate and streamline administrative tasks. Whether you're using PowerCLI or the vCLI, understanding how to effectively manage licenses via the command line can save time and reduce the risk of errors associated with manual operations through the GUI. This guide provides a foundation for command-line management, but always consult official VMware documentation and resources for the most current and detailed information.

vCenter requires a separate license (not the same as ESXi keys). vcenter license key command line

While standalone ESXi hosts use the vim-cmd vimsvc/license --set=KEY command via SSH, this command is not used to license a vCenter Server. Managing vCenter license keys through the command line

# Remove license from all entities Get-VMHost | Set-VMHost -License "None" # Remove the key from vCenter Remove-VMLicense -LicenseKey "XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX" -Confirm:$false vCenter requires a separate license (not the same

For environments without PowerCLI, you can use REST API calls (vCenter 6.5+) or SOAP-based vmware-cmd scripts. Modern vCenter APIs allow license assignment via HTTP requests.