# Managed Object - LicenseManager(vim.LicenseManager)

Property of
  HostConfigManager, ServiceContent
See also
  HostSystem, KeyValue, LicenseAssignmentManager, LicenseAvailabilityInfo, LicenseDiagnostics, LicenseFeatureInfo, LicenseManagerEvaluationInfo, LicenseManagerLicenseInfo, LicenseSource, LicenseUsageInfo

## Managed Object Description

This managed object type controls entitlements for a given VMware platform. VMware platforms include VirtualCenter, ESX Server, VMware Server, Workstation and Player. Entitlements define what software capabilities this host may use.

Entitlements are identified by a short string 'key'. Keys can represent either a particular edition (Full, Starter) or a particular feature/function (featureKey) (backup, nas). An edition implies zero one or more functions which are express, denied or optional. For example a 'Full' edition includes 'iscsi' function but a Starter edition might disallow it.

Which edition a given VMware platform uses can be defined at any time. Generally this is done right after first install and boot as installation software may not set it. For editions that are similar in nature, any future changes to edition type will only impact future requests for functionality. Current functionality is left unaffected. The same is true for optional functions enabled/disabled after some period of time. For dissimilar editions, such transitions may require entering maintenance mode first else an exception of InvalidState will be thrown.

To specify the edition type and any optional functions, use updateLicense for ESX Server and addLicense follow by LicenseAssingmentManager.updateAssignedLicense for VirtualCenter.

When an edition is specified for a given host, the cost of that edition (how many licenses are needed) is determined. The cost is computed using the license's CostUnit value multiplied by the number of units activated. For example, when a VMware platform is set to an edition which uses a 'cpuPackage' on a two socket server, two licenses would be needed to successfully install that edition.

Here is a diagram of the unit costs supported by this API and their relationships.

       +------------------------------+   +--------+      +-------+
       | +-----------+ +-----------+  |   | Server |      |  Host |
       | |           | |           |  |   +--------+      +-------+
       | |  cpuCore  | |   cpuCore |  |                   +-------+
       | +-----------+ +-----------+  |   +--------+      |  Host |
       |                  cpuPackage  |   |  VM    |      +-------+
       +------------------------------+   +--------+

Properties

Name | Type | Description
--- | --- | ---
diagnostics* | LicenseDiagnostics | Deprecated. As of vSphere API 4.0, this property is not used by the system. Return current diagnostic information. Since VI API 2.5
evaluation P | LicenseManagerEvaluationInfo | Deprecated as of vSphere API 6.0 for vCenter Impl use cis.license.management.SystemManagementService For ESX it is still supported. Since vSphere API 4.0
featureInfo* | LicenseFeatureInfo[] | Deprecated. As of VI API 2.5, use QuerySupportedFeatures instead. The list of features that can be licensed.
licenseAssignmentManager* P | ManagedObjectReference to a LicenseAssignmentManager | Deprecated. As of vSphere API 6.0 use cis.license.management.SystemManagementService License Assignment Manager Since vSphere API 4.0
licensedEdition | xsd:string | Deprecated. As of vSphere API 4.0, use QueryAssignedLicenses instead. The product's license edition. The edition defines which product license the server requires. This, in turn, determines the core set of functionalities provided by the product and the additional features that can be licensed. If no edition is set the property is set to the empty string (""). To set the edition use SetLicenseEdition. Since VI API 2.5
licenses P | LicenseManagerLicenseInfo[] | Get information about all the licenses avaiable. Deprecated as of vSphere API 6.0 for vCenter Impl use cis.license.management.SystemManagementService For ESX it is still supported. Since vSphere API 4.0
source | LicenseSource | Deprecated. As of vSphere API 4.0, use QueryAssignedLicenses to get evaluation information. Set or return a data object type of LocalLicense or LicenseServer.
sourceAvailable | xsd:boolean | Deprecated. As of vSphere API 4.0, this property is not used. Current state of the license source. License sources that are LocalSource are always available.

*May not be present P Required privilege - see tooltip for details

Methods

Methods defined in this Managed Object
AddLicense, CheckLicenseFeature, ConfigureLicenseSource, DecodeLicense, DisableFeature, EnableFeature, QueryLicenseSourceAvailability, QueryLicenseUsage, QuerySupportedFeatures, RemoveLicense, RemoveLicenseLabel, SetLicenseEdition, UpdateLicense, UpdateLicenseLabel

# AddLicense(addLicense)

Deprecated. As of vSphere API 6.0 use cis.license.management.SystemManagementService

Adds a license to the inventory of available licenses.

Required Privileges
  Global.Licenses
Since
  vSphere API 4.0

Parameters

Name | Type | Description
--- | --- | ---
_this | ManagedObjectReference | A reference to the LicenseManager used to make the method call.
licenseKey | xsd:string | A license. E.g. a serial license.
labels* | KeyValue[] | array of key-value labels. Ignored by ESX Server.

*Need not be set

Return Value

Type | Description
--- | ---
LicenseManagerLicenseInfo | Returns information about the license specified in licenseKey.

Faults

Type | Description
--- | ---
RuntimeFault | Thrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None

Show WSDL type definition
<element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="AddLicense" type="vim25:AddLicenseRequestType"/> <element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="AddLicenseResponse"> <complexType> <sequence> <element name="returnval" type="vim25:LicenseManagerLicenseInfo"/> </sequence> </complexType> </element>

# CheckLicenseFeature(checkFeature)

Deprecated. As of vSphere API 4.0, use QueryAssignedLicenses instead.

Returns whether or not a given feature is enabled.

Required Privileges
  System.Read

Parameters

Name | Type | Description
--- | --- | ---
_this | ManagedObjectReference | A reference to the LicenseManager used to make the method call.
host* | ManagedObjectReference to a HostSystem | Host to act on if LicenseManager is not on a host.
featureKey | xsd:string | Name of the feature to enable.

*Need not be set

Return Value

Type | Description
--- | ---
xsd:boolean | Returns true if the feature is enabled and false if it is not.

Faults

Type | Description
--- | ---
InvalidArgument | Thrown if a feature name is not found.
InvalidState | Thrown if the feature cannot be supported on the platform, potentially because the hardware configuration does not support it.
RuntimeFault | Thrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None

Show WSDL type definition
<element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="CheckLicenseFeature" type="vim25:CheckLicenseFeatureRequestType"/> <element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="CheckLicenseFeatureResponse"> <complexType> <sequence> <element name="returnval" type="xsd:boolean"/> </sequence> </complexType> </element>

# ConfigureLicenseSource(configureSource)

Deprecated. As of vSphere API 4.0, use UpdateLicense instead.

Allows for reconfiguration of the License Manager license source.

This changes the licensing source to be either served or local. Before changing the license source location, the API checks the number of licenses available at the new potential source to ensure there are at least as many licenses there as have been issued by the current source. If there are an equal or greater number of licenses at the new source, all licenses on the current source are released and then reacquired from the new source. If there are not enough licenses available on the new source to reissue all licenses, the operation fails.

This is used to configure the license source on an individual host.

PLATFORM Specific Notes: VirtualCenter - only supports a served source. the host parameter is mandatory. ESX Server - the host parameter is optional.

Required Privileges
  Global.Licenses

Parameters

Name | Type | Description
--- | --- | ---
_this | ManagedObjectReference | A reference to the LicenseManager used to make the method call.
host* | ManagedObjectReference to a HostSystem | Host for which the license manager should be reconfigured.
licenseSource | LicenseSource | ServedSource or LocalSource.

*Need not be set

Return Value

Type | Description
--- | ---
None

Faults

Type | Description
--- | ---
CannotAccessLocalSource | Thrown if the local source cannot be accessed.
InvalidLicense | Thrown if the new license source is LocalLicenseSource and the license file is not valid.
LicenseServerUnavailable | Thrown if the license server is unreachable.
NotEnoughLicenses | Thrown if the new license source does not have enough licenses.
RuntimeFault | Thrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None

Show WSDL type definition
<element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="ConfigureLicenseSource" type="vim25:ConfigureLicenseSourceRequestType"/> <element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="ConfigureLicenseSourceResponse"> <complexType/> </element>

# DecodeLicense(decodeLicense)

Decodes licensing information on the license specified.

Required Privileges
  Global.Licenses
Since
  vSphere API 4.0

Parameters

Name | Type | Description
--- | --- | ---
_this | ManagedObjectReference | A reference to the LicenseManager used to make the method call.
licenseKey | xsd:string | A license. E.g. a serial license.

Return Value

Type | Description
--- | ---
LicenseManagerLicenseInfo | Returns information about the license specified in licenseKey. Deprecated as of vSphere API 6.0 for vCenter Impl use cis.license.management.SystemManagementService For ESX it is still supported.

Faults

Type | Description
--- | ---
RuntimeFault | Thrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None

Show WSDL type definition
<element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="DecodeLicense" type="vim25:DecodeLicenseRequestType"/> <element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="DecodeLicenseResponse"> <complexType> <sequence> <element name="returnval" type="vim25:LicenseManagerLicenseInfo"/> </sequence> </complexType> </element>

# DisableFeature(disable)

Deprecated. As of vSphere API 4.0, use RemoveAssignedLicense instead.

Release licenses for an optional feature.

Required Privileges
  Global.Licenses

Parameters

Name | Type | Description
--- | --- | ---
_this | ManagedObjectReference | A reference to the LicenseManager used to make the method call.
host* | ManagedObjectReference to a HostSystem | Host to act on if LicenseManager is not on a host.
featureKey | xsd:string | key of the feature to disable.

*Need not be set

Return Value

Type | Description
--- | ---
xsd:boolean | Returns true if the feature was disabled and false if not.

Faults

Type | Description
--- | ---
InvalidArgument | Thrown if a feature name is not found or it is not optional.
InvalidState | Thrown if the feature is in use.
LicenseServerUnavailable | Thrown if the license server is unavailable.
RuntimeFault | Thrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None

Show WSDL type definition
<element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="DisableFeature" type="vim25:DisableFeatureRequestType"/> <element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="DisableFeatureResponse"> <complexType> <sequence> <element name="returnval" type="xsd:boolean"/> </sequence> </complexType> </element>

# EnableFeature(enable)

Deprecated. As of vSphere API 4.0, use UpdateAssignedLicense instead.

Enable a feature that has an optional state.

Required Privileges
  Global.Licenses

Parameters

Name | Type | Description
--- | --- | ---
_this | ManagedObjectReference | A reference to the LicenseManager used to make the method call.
host* | ManagedObjectReference to a HostSystem | Host to act on if LicenseManager is not on a host.
featureKey | xsd:string | Name of the feature to enable.

*Need not be set

Return Value

Type | Description
--- | ---
xsd:boolean | Returns true if enabling the feature was successful, false otherwise.

Faults

Type | Description
--- | ---
InvalidArgument | Thrown if a feature name is not found or it is not optional.
InvalidState | Thrown if the feature cannot be supported on the platform, potentially because the hardware configuration does not support it.
LicenseServerUnavailable | Thrown if the license server is unavailable.
RuntimeFault | Thrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None

Show WSDL type definition
<element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="EnableFeature" type="vim25:EnableFeatureRequestType"/> <element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="EnableFeatureResponse"> <complexType> <sequence> <element name="returnval" type="xsd:boolean"/> </sequence> </complexType> </element>

# QueryLicenseSourceAvailability(querySourceAvailability)

Deprecated. As of vSphere API 4.0, use QueryAssignedLicenses instead.

Queries the current license source for total and available licenses available for each feature known to this system.

Required Privileges
  Global.Licenses

Parameters

Name | Type | Description
--- | --- | ---
_this | ManagedObjectReference | A reference to the LicenseManager used to make the method call.
host* | ManagedObjectReference to a HostSystem | Use the license source of the specified host.

*Need not be set

Return Value

Type | Description
--- | ---
LicenseAvailabilityInfo[] |

Faults

Type | Description
--- | ---
RuntimeFault | Thrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None

Show WSDL type definition
<element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="QueryLicenseSourceAvailability" type="vim25:QueryLicenseSourceAvailabilityRequestType"/> <element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="QueryLicenseSourceAvailabilityResponse"> <complexType> <sequence> <element name="returnval" type="vim25:LicenseAvailabilityInfo" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded"/> </sequence> </complexType> </element>

# QueryLicenseUsage(queryUsage)

Deprecated. As of vSphere API 4.0, use QueryAssignedLicenses instead.

Returns the license usage. The license usage is a list of supported features and the number of licenses that have been reserved.

PLATFORM Specific Notes: VirtualCenter - Empty string returns the usage of non-host specific features. Must specify managed host to query. ESX Server - Host argument ignored.

Required Privileges
  System.Read

Parameters

Name | Type | Description
--- | --- | ---
_this | ManagedObjectReference | A reference to the LicenseManager used to make the method call.
host* | ManagedObjectReference to a HostSystem | Host to query for usage. If missing, query the server the LicenseManager is on.

*Need not be set

Return Value

Type | Description
--- | ---
LicenseUsageInfo |

Faults

Type | Description
--- | ---
RuntimeFault | Thrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None

Show WSDL type definition
<element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="QueryLicenseUsage" type="vim25:QueryLicenseUsageRequestType"/> <element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="QueryLicenseUsageResponse"> <complexType> <sequence> <element name="returnval" type="vim25:LicenseUsageInfo"/> </sequence> </complexType> </element>

# QuerySupportedFeatures(querySupportedFeatures)

Deprecated. As of vSphere API 4.0, use QueryAssignedLicenses instead.

Queries the current license source for a list of available licenses that can be licensed from this system.

Required Privileges
  Global.Licenses
Since
  VI API 2.5

Parameters

Name | Type | Description
--- | --- | ---
_this | ManagedObjectReference | A reference to the LicenseManager used to make the method call.
host* | ManagedObjectReference to a HostSystem | Use the license source of the specified host.

*Need not be set

Return Value

Type | Description
--- | ---
LicenseFeatureInfo[] |

Faults

Type | Description
--- | ---
RuntimeFault | Thrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None

Show WSDL type definition
<element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="QuerySupportedFeatures" type="vim25:QuerySupportedFeaturesRequestType"/> <element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="QuerySupportedFeaturesResponse"> <complexType> <sequence> <element name="returnval" type="vim25:LicenseFeatureInfo" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded"/> </sequence> </complexType> </element>

# RemoveLicense(removeLicense)

Remove license from the available set.

Required Privileges
  Global.Licenses
Since
  vSphere API 4.0

Parameters

Name | Type | Description
--- | --- | ---
_this | ManagedObjectReference | A reference to the LicenseManager used to make the method call.
licenseKey | xsd:string | A licenses. E.g. a serial license. Deprecated as of vSphere API 6.0 for vCenter Impl use cis.license.management.SystemManagementService For ESX it is still supported.

Return Value

Type | Description
--- | ---
None

Faults

Type | Description
--- | ---
RuntimeFault | Thrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None

Show WSDL type definition
<element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="RemoveLicense" type="vim25:RemoveLicenseRequestType"/> <element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="RemoveLicenseResponse"> <complexType/> </element>

# RemoveLicenseLabel(removeLabel)

Deprecated. As of vSphere API 6.0 use cis.license.management.SystemManagementService

Removed a license's label.

Required Privileges
  Global.Licenses
Since
  vSphere API 4.0

Parameters

Name | Type | Description
--- | --- | ---
_this | ManagedObjectReference | A reference to the LicenseManager used to make the method call.
licenseKey | xsd:string | A license.
labelKey | xsd:string | A label key.

Return Value

Type | Description
--- | ---
None

Faults

Type | Description
--- | ---
RuntimeFault | Thrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None

Show WSDL type definition
<element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="RemoveLicenseLabel" type="vim25:RemoveLicenseLabelRequestType"/> <element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="RemoveLicenseLabelResponse"> <complexType/> </element>

# SetLicenseEdition(setEdition)

Deprecated. As of vSphere API 4.0, use QueryAssignedLicenses instead.

Defines the product's license edition. The edition defines which product license the server requires. This, in turn, determines the core set of functionality provided by the product and the additional features that can be licensed.

To determine what featureKey the current platform will accept, use querySourceAvailablity() at runtime, or consult the documentation for the current platform.

Required Privileges
  Global.Licenses

Parameters

Name | Type | Description
--- | --- | ---
_this | ManagedObjectReference | A reference to the LicenseManager used to make the method call.
host* | ManagedObjectReference to a HostSystem | Host to act on if LicenseManager is not on a host.
featureKey* | xsd:string | Name of edition feature to select. If featureKey is not set or set to empty string, the product becomes unlicensed.

*Need not be set

Return Value

Type | Description
--- | ---
None

Faults

Type | Description
--- | ---
InvalidArgument | Thrown if a feature key is not an edition feature key.
InvalidState | Thrown if the feature cannot be supported on the platform, potentially because the hardware configuration does not support it.
LicenseServerUnavailable | Thrown if the license server is unavailable.
RuntimeFault | Thrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None

Show WSDL type definition
<element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="SetLicenseEdition" type="vim25:SetLicenseEditionRequestType"/> <element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="SetLicenseEditionResponse"> <complexType/> </element>

# UpdateLicense(updateLicense)

Updates the available licenses to the one provided in licenseKey. This is the same as removing all the licenses using RemoveLicense and adding licenseKey using AddLicense If the optional parameter labels is specify this is the same as calling updateLicense without the optioal parameter and calling updateLabel for each pair in the labels array.

Required Privileges
  Global.Licenses
Since
  vSphere API 4.0

Parameters

Name | Type | Description
--- | --- | ---
_this | ManagedObjectReference | A reference to the LicenseManager used to make the method call.
licenseKey | xsd:string | A license. E.g. a serial license.
labels* | KeyValue[] | array of key-value labels.

*Need not be set

Return Value

Type | Description
--- | ---
LicenseManagerLicenseInfo | Returns information about the license specified in licenseKey. Deprecated as of vSphere API 6.0 for vCenter Impl use cis.license.management.SystemManagementService For ESX it is still supported.

Faults

Type | Description
--- | ---
RuntimeFault | Thrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None

Show WSDL type definition
<element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="UpdateLicense" type="vim25:UpdateLicenseRequestType"/> <element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="UpdateLicenseResponse"> <complexType> <sequence> <element name="returnval" type="vim25:LicenseManagerLicenseInfo"/> </sequence> </complexType> </element>

# UpdateLicenseLabel(updateLabel)

Deprecated. As of vSphere API 6.0 use cis.license.management.SystemManagementService

Update a license's label. It creates a label entry if the labelKey doesn't already exist

Required Privileges
  Global.Licenses
Since
  vSphere API 4.0

Parameters

Name | Type | Description
--- | --- | ---
_this | ManagedObjectReference | A reference to the LicenseManager used to make the method call.
licenseKey | xsd:string | A license.
labelKey | xsd:string | A label key.
labelValue | xsd:string | Value for the label.

Return Value

Type | Description
--- | ---
None

Faults

Type | Description
--- | ---
RuntimeFault | Thrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None

Show WSDL type definition
<element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="UpdateLicenseLabel" type="vim25:UpdateLicenseLabelRequestType"/> <element xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:vim25="urn:vim25" name="UpdateLicenseLabelResponse"> <complexType/> </element>