All the capabilities of VMware Aria Operations for Networks are available with a purchase of VMware Cloud Foundation. With a purchase of VMware Cloud Foundation, you get VMware Aria Operations for Networks Enterprise edition.

VMware Aria Operations for Networks License generated for VMware Cloud Foundation

You must use VMware vSphere 8 Enterprise Plus license keys generated for VMware Cloud Foundation to entitle VMware Aria Operations for Networks.

Instead of using separate license keys for VMware Aria Operations for Networks, you can use vSphere keys to entitle VMware Aria Operations for Networks. You must apply the license keys to VMware vCenter, and VMware Aria Operations for Networks automatically fetches the entitlement after you add an entitled VMware vCenter as a data source.

Evaluation Mode and License Entitlement

From version 6.12.1, by default, VMware Aria Operations for Networks starts in evaluation mode.

You do not need a license key to deploy VMware Aria Operations for Networks. You can use the product in evaluation mode for 60 days. During the evaluation period, you see a banner with the number of days remaining in the evaluation period.

To entitle VMware Aria Operations for Networks, you must apply the license keys to VMware vCenter, and VMware Aria Operations for Networks automatically fetches the entitlement after you add an entitled VMware vCenter as a data source or enter a valid license key.
Note: If the system fails to automatically fetches the entitlement after you add an entitled VMware vCenter as a data source, you can add a valid license key that you have received during license purchase. To learn about adding a license key, see Add a License.

Mix and Match of Licenses

In VMware Aria Operations for Networks, you can use an existing standalone Enterprise or Universal license with VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2 license. But, you cannot use an existing standalone Advance license with VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2.

Standalone Advanced: If you have VMware Aria Operations for Networks Advanced license, you will not be able to expand your environment with VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2 . Due to a large feature gap between Advanced and Enterprise licenses, mixing these two licenses is not supported.

You need to purchase VMware Cloud Foundation. Contact the Sales team for more details.

Standalone Enterprise and Universal: If you have an existing standalone Enterprise (per core or socket-based) or Universal license, and if you purchase VMware Cloud Foundation per core license, you can use the existing Enterprise or Universal license with your VMware Cloud Foundation (includes the Enterprise edition).

FAQ

  • What is the duration of the evaluation mode?

    You can use VMware Aria Operations for Networks in evaluation mode for 60 days. After the evaluation period expires, the product enters a restricted mode. You must add a VMware vCenter Server with VMware Cloud Foundation license entitlement as a data source or enter a valid license key to use the full feature of VMware Aria Operations for Networks.

  • What happens if no license keys are added after the evaluation period is over?

    The product enters a restricted mode. During restricted mode, all data collections are stopped, and you can not add any data source except an entitled VMware vCenter.

  • What if I have multiple VMware vCenter Server with VMware Cloud Foundation license entitlement as a data source in VMware Aria Operations for Networks?

    VMware Aria Operations for Networks retains the license with the longest validity.

  • When my VMware Cloud Foundation license expires, do I get any grace period?

    Yes, you get a grace period of 90 days. During the grace period, you can use all the capabilities of the product. If you do not add a valid license during the grace period, VMware Aria Operations for Networks will enter restricted mode.