You can add and assign a license using the vSphere Web Client.

Starting in NSX 6.4.0, you must be a member of the LicenseService.Administrators group to manage licenses.

The default license upon install is NSX for vShield Endpoint. This license enables use of NSX for deploying and managing vShield Endpoint for anti-virus offload capability only, and has hard enforcement to restrict usage of VXLAN, firewall, and Edge services, by blocking host preparation and creation of NSX Edges. To use other features, including logical switches, logical routers, Distributed Firewall, or NSX Edge, you must either purchase a license to use these features, or request an evaluation license for short-term evaluation of the features.

  • NSX for vSphere Standard, Advanced, and Enterprise license keys are effective in NSX 6.2.2 and later.
  • NSX Data Center Standard, Professional, Advanced, Enterprise Plus, and Remote Office Branch Office license keys are effective in NSX 6.4.1 and later.

For more information about the NSX Data Center, NSX, and NSX for vShield Endpoint licencing editions and associated features, see https://kb.vmware.com/kb/2145269.

For more information about VMware product licensing, see http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/vmware-product-guide.pdf.

For more information about managing license in vSphere, see the vCenter Server and Host Management documentation for your version of vSphere.

Prerequisites

Verify that all vCenter users who manage licenses are in the LicenseService.Administrators group.

If you have multiple vCenter Server systems using the same Platform Services Controller, and multiple NSX Managers registered with those vCenter Servers, you must combine the licenses for the NSX Manager appliances into one license. See https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/53750 for more information. See https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2006973 for information about combining licenses.

Procedure

  1. Log in to the vSphere Web Client.
  2. Click Administration and then click Licenses.
  3. Click the Assets tab, then the Solutions tab.
  4. Select NSX for vSphere in the Solutions list. From the All Actions drop-down menu, select Assign license....
  5. Click the Add (Add) icon. Enter a license key and click Next. Add a name for the license, and click Next. Click Finish to add the license.
  6. Select the new license.
  7. (Optional) Click the View Features icon to view what features are enabled with this license.
  8. Click OK to assign the new license to NSX.