Trial License after 60 days

[GunFood]

Hi,

I have a question,

I'm running a ESXi 5.5 licensed server with the installed free licence. I have 2 ESXi 5.1 Server running in trial mode to be able to move machines. Due to a hardware problem, I would like to move VMs running on the ESXi 5.5 machine to the two other ESXi hosts. I've installed the vCenter Appliance, so this is no problem. Due to the long time, the ESXi 5.5 runs now, the trial period is gone and I'm unable to switch back to no license to move the VMs. Does anyone have an idea to fix my problem so I'm able to change the ESX host. After all, I would like to move back to a new installed ESXi 5.5 machine, so I don't need the vCenter and the two other ESXi Hosts.

Thanks for your help

[vThinkBeyondVM]

I do not think without valid license we can solve this,

[sh0ck-wave]

Can't you install another drive (or USB memory stick) in the 5.5 server, install ESXi 5.5 again onto that drive or USB to gain another trial period .. then re-detect the existing VM's and migrate them off ?

[Gav0]

you should be able to do this with Veeam Free edition:

http://www.veeam.com/virtual-machine-backup-solution-free.html

[GunFood]

Hi,

thanks for the answers.

Veeam isn't a solution: Note: Free vSphere Hypervisor (free ESXi) is not supported. vSphere Essentials or higher license level required.

I don't have physical access to the server. It's located inside a datacenter at a large hoster. SO no option to do a fresh install on a usb stick.

A collegue told me, one option could be a reset system configuration. This should reset the trial period too. But requires a reboot and I don't know, if the ESXi host will ever come up again.

[amurrey]

Sounds like you'll need to call VMWare support and pay for an incident.  They could provide another trial license, or it may be worth it to purchase a single license.  It sounds like without VMWare intervention in your circumstances, that you are stuck.