Quoted directly by Aaron from:
Reset Vcenter 6.5 Evaluation License Plate
“This guide will give you the steps needed to reset the license file so that you can apply the evaluation license back to your ESXi host.
UPDATED (October 18th, 2018): The vCenter Server features by licensing chart has been updated to reflect that the vCenter Server Migration Tool is included in the ISO and is available to use with all vCenter Server licensed versions. VCenter Server allows virtualization administrators to centrally manage and monitor their vSphere environments. Lately I’ve received several questions from. This guide will give you the steps needed to reset the license file so that you can apply the evaluation license back to your ESXi host. WARNING: This is for education/informational testing/development purposes only, and should not be used on a production server. To reset your expired ESX 4.x, ESXi 4.x, ESXi 5.x or ESXi 6.x 60 day evaluation. If you don’t have the licenses and it exceeded the 60 days evaluation licenses host will disconnect from the vCenter server as below. If you need to get the server connected to the vCenter just delete the “vmware.lic” and “licenses.cfg” files and reboot the ESXi host, use below command to perform the action.
Reset Vcenter 6.5 Evaluation License Key
WARNING:This is for education/informational testing/development purposes only, and should not be used on a production server.
To reset your expired ESX 4.x, ESXi 4.x, ESXi 5.x or ESXi 6.x 60 day evaluation license:
- Login to the HOST via SSH or Shell
- Remove /etc/vmware/license.cfg
- Copy /etc/vmware/.#license.cfg to /etc/vmware/license.cfg
- Restart the vpxa service
Or simply copy the code below and paste it into your SSH session.
Then open the “Licensed Features” option in the configuration tab of the ESXi host through the vSphere Client.
Click on “Edit” in the top right of the “Licensed Features” page
Once the “Assign License” window opens you will see two options. There will be a category for “Evaluation Mode” and Assigned License. Click on the “(No License Key)” option and then click “OK”. This will set the host back to “evaluation” mode and will give you access to all features for 60-days!”
You can proceed refresh it manually everytimes it reaches the end by running this command
Alternatively you can set cronjob to refresh it automatically. Create file and place it in any of your preferred directory.
Copy and paste this scripts
Save it and change the permission so that it is executable.
Now you can create cronjob to run the script at at anytime you want
In order to preserve the crotab, you may need to put it in rc.local as ESXi will clear cronjob whenever it reboots.
and paste this scripts