Install Vmware vCenter into ESXi 5.5 and Reset ESXi into Evaluation Mode

6/2/2015

VMware vCenter Server provides centralized visibility, proactive management and extensibility for VMware vSphere from a single console.

The easiest way to deploy vCenter server is to use vCenter server appliance, which is a Linux-based virtual appliance used to manage vSphere. Following steps shows the procedures how this virtual appliacne deployed into ESXi environment.

1. Download Software

There are a couple of options you can download.
a. Download .iso file to install vCenter into windows / linux environment.
b. Download .ova virtual appliance to deploy it into virtual environment
c. Download ovf file, vmdk system disk and vmdk data disk to deploy template into virtual environment.

In my lab, I selected single 2g single ova file to download and deploy it into my ESXi 5.5 server.

2. Deploy it into ESXi

Deployment procedure for this virtual vCenter appliace is same as other virtual appliances. After imported into ESXi, you can review Vmware vCenter Server Appliance's Virtual Machine Properties again. By default, it uses 8G memory, 2 CPUs, Hard disk 1 is 25G system disk and Hard disk 2 is 100G data disk.

3. Power on Vmware vCenter Server Appliance

After system fully powers on, you will get vSphere Web Client URL. In my this case, it is https://192.168.2.220:5480/

4. Log into Web Client using a browser with default username root and password vmware.

5. Use Vmware vSphere Client to log into vCenter using ip address 192.168.2.220

6. Add ESXi into vCenter

Enter my ESXi 5.5 ip address192.168.2.201, root username and password , then next step.

7. Problem to add ESXi

My ESXi has been used for more than 1 year, and evaluation expired. I did get a free license from Vmware website for my personal usage. Unfortunately, vCenter can not allow any expired or non-evaluation ESXi machine to be added.

Based on KB1018275,

If an ESXi host is licensed with the free version of the license key, you cannot add it to vCenter Server. This license does not contain the VirtualCenter Agent, which is necessary to manage a host with vCenter Server. This feature remains locked as long as the host is licensed with the free version of the license key.

To add ESXi hosts to vCenter Server, you must license the ESXi hosts with:

vSphere Essentials

Licensing an ESXi host with vSphere Essentials allows you to manage three ESXi hosts using vCenter Server. For more information on purchasing vSphere Essentials, see VMware vSphere and VMware vCenter Server Pricing.
vSphere Standard, Enterprise, or Enterprise Plus

Licensing the ESXi host with one these products unlocks the add-on features that allow you to manage ESXi hosts using vCenter Server. For more information about these products, see Compare vSphere Editions.

For more information on licensing an ESX/ESXi 4.x host, see Licensing ESX 4.x, ESXi 4.x, and vCenter Server 4.x (1010839).

For more information on licensing an ESXi 5.x host, see Licensing ESXi 5.x and vCenter Server 5.x (2014295).

For more information on licensing an ESXi 6.x host, see Licensing ESXi 6.x and vCenter Server 6.x (2107538).

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Official way is to get an license for your vSphere. But we will have another easy way to reset ESXi into an evaluation mode for 60 days. You always can reset it again after expired.

8. Reset my ESXi to evaluation mode

a. For ESXi 4.1/5.0
cd /etc/vmware
rm-r vmware.lic
rm-r license.cfg
"reboot" or "services.sh restart"

b.For ESXi 5.1 + (used for my machine ESXi 5.5)
rm -r /etc/vmware/license.cfg
cp /etc/vmware/.#license.cfg /etc/vmware/license.cfg
/etc/init.d/vpxa restart

After did above steps reset the machine into evaluation mode, please go to Licence configuration page and put back to Evaluate Mode for 60 new Days

9. Assign License again after reset license in ESXi

This time, vCenter will find your ESXi is in evaluation mode, and allow you go to next steps.

10. Check ESXi 5.5's Settings

Finally, my vCenter virtual machine is running into ESXi environment. I am able to test vCenter's other features.

Reference:

a. vCenter Server 5.5.0b Release Notes
b. Adding an ESXi host to vCenter Server fails with the error: Host cannot be added to the vCenter as there are not enough Virtual Center Agent Licenses (1018275)

1 Comment

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6/12/2025 05:13:02

Excellent composition! Your methodical, sensible overview of installing the vCenter Server Appliance into ESXi 5.5 is excellent. Especially useful is the way you pointed out the licensing trap—that free ESXi cannot be controlled by vCentre.

The commands are simple and easy to understand, hence I really appreciate how you offered the remedy utilizing the evaluation‑mode reset. This was clearly tested in a real-world lab, not only hypothesis.

One minor recommendation: even if only in passing, it would be interesting to highlight any consequences of routinely resetting evaluation mode in manufacturing situations.

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