You can use VMware Aria Operations for Logs either with a valid license key or by integrating with a vCenter Server that has a VMware Cloud Foundation license entitlement.

The evaluation license for VMware Aria Operations for Logs is valid for 90 days. When the evaluation license expires, you must assign a permanent license to continue using VMware Aria Operations for Logs.

When the evaluation license expires and if you do not assign a permanent license, VMware Aria Operations for Logs runs in Restricted Mode until a permanent license is assigned. In the Restricted Mode, VMware Aria Operations for Logs has the following behaviour:
  • VMware Aria Operations for Logs continues to collect logs and data
  • User queries are restricted, you can not use search or analyse logs
  • You can not add new nodes to the VMware Aria Operations for Logs infrastructure
  • You can not upgrade VMware Aria Operations for Logs to a newer version
  • Log forwarding is disabled
  • Third party content packs are disabled
  • The following functionalities that rely on queries are disabled:
    • Export logs
    • Dashboards
    • Shared dashboards
    • Running and sending alerts
    • Running and sending scheduled reports
    • Calculating and displaying usage reports
  • APIs are functional
  • You can modify the Configuration and Integration settings

The VMware Aria Operations for Logs Operating System Instance (OSI) license model defines an OSI as a single installation of an operating system on a non-virtualized physical server or virtual machine. For VMware Aria Operations for Logs, an OSI can also be a single system identified by an IP address such as virtualized physical servers, storage arrays, or network devices that can generate log messages.

When a host, server or other source stops sending logs to VMware Aria Operations for Logs, the OSI count on the License page is unchanged during the retention period. The retention period is based on license use calculated as the average of the OSI count over the last three months.

You use the Management section of the VMware Aria Operations for Logs web user interface to check the VMware Aria Operations for Logs licensing status and manage your licenses.

As part of solution interoperability, VMware NSX users on Standard, Advanced, or Enterprise editions can license VMware Aria Operations for Logs with their NSX license key. For more information, consult VMware NSX documentation.

Note:

Before you begin, ensure you either have a VMware Aria Operations for Logs license key, or vCenter Server VMware Cloud Foundation license entitlement.