Reset ESXI Evaluation Mode Licensing: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 01:24, 11 September 2019

I'm trying to learn as much as I can about ESXI, without having to worry about license limits or restrictions, but I don't want my VMs to drop dead either. I found this page that describes how you can reset the evaluation mode with minimal server interruption.

Add it to cron:

vi /etc/rc.local.d/local.sh

And add the following:

/bin/kill $(cat /var/run/crond.pid) 
/bin/echo "0 0 1 * * rm -r /etc/vmware/license.cfg; cp /etc/vmware/.#license.cfg /etc/vmware/license.cfg; /etc/init.d/vpxa restart;" >> /var/spool/cron/cr
/usr/lib/vmware/busybox/bin/busybox crond

Run the script

/bin/sh /etc/rc.local.d/local.sh

Make the change persistent:

/bin/auto-backup.sh

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 I'm trying to learn as much as I can about ESXI, without having to worry about license limits or restrictions, but I don't want my VMs to drop dead either. I found [https://learnvmware.online/2018/01/23/reset-esxi-6-5-evaluation/ this page] that describes how you can reset the evaluation mode with minimal server interruption.
-Create a Shell Script at /usr/local/bin and make it executable
-<pre>vi /usr/bin/resetesxi.sh</pre>
-Include the following:
-<pre>
-rm -r /etc/vmware/license.cfg
-cp /etc/vmware/.#license.cfg /etc/vmware/license.cfg
-/etc/init.d/vpxa restart
-</pre>
-Do a chgmod to make it executable
-<pre>chmod /usr/bin/resetesxi.sh</pre>
 Add it to cron:
@@ Line 23: / Line 8: @@
 <pre>
-/bin/kill $(cat /var/run/crond.pid) # stop the Cron Daemon
+/bin/kill $(cat /var/run/crond.pid)
 /bin/echo "0 0 1 * * rm -r /etc/vmware/license.cfg; cp /etc/vmware/.#license.cfg /etc/vmware/license.cfg; /etc/init.d/vpxa restart;" >> /var/spool/cron/cr
 /usr/lib/vmware/busybox/bin/busybox crond
 </pre>