Domain repointing copies license keys to a new domain. Copying the license keys ensures that valid licensing of all assets is maintained after repointing.

vCenter Server tracks license usage on a per domain basis. If a key is used in more than one domain, you must ensure that the aggregate use of the key does not exceed its capacity. To simplify your license management, remove each license copied to a second domain and assign a new license to assets.

Consider the following two cases:
  • License keys that are no longer in use (that is, assigned to assets) in the original domain post repointing.
  • License keys that are in use (that is, assigned to assets) in multiple domains.

For more information about cross-domain repointing, see "Repoint vCenter Server to Another vCenter Server in a Different Domain" in vCenter Server Installation and Setup.

License Keys Not in Use in a Domain

If after completing repointing, a license key appears in more than one domain, but is not in use in some of those domains, you can remove the license key from any domain in which it is not in use. For instructions on how to remove the licenses in vCenter Server, see How Do You Remove a License in the vSphere Client.

License Keys in Use in Multiple Domains

If after completing repointing, a license key is in use (that is, assigned to assets) in more than one domain, to remove the license key from all but one domain, first a different license key must be assigned to each asset in domains from which the license key will be removed. Two common approaches: