ESX 3.0.2 Change License Server
I found it is not so obvious to change your license server when you accidentally point ESX at the wrong server. I think it has to do with the fact that this wrong server does not exist. Here is a how to.
Software used:
* ESX 3.0.2 – no patches – build 52542
* VIC build 50618
Forgot to change the licensing lines in my kickstart file, so my config looked like this.
If you try to edit the license server field in the GUI, like this:
It will fail with the descriptive message “A specified parameter was not correct”. There was some other message when I was connected to VC 2.0.2 with the VIC.
My guess is that it was trying to talk to the old license server before changing it.
I ended up having to edit /etc/vmware/license.cfg. Change the line that starts with SERVER=, leaving the rest of the file alone. I changed server name to be the correct one. I used vi, but I bet you can use any editor you want. Then restart the management agent. /etc/init.d/mgmt-vmware restart.
After that I could license the different features and carry on with life.