To inject a license key over an active SSH session without a GUI client, use the following operational syntax: vim-cmd vimsvc/license --set=XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX Use code with caution.
VMware ESXi 5.5 is a legacy bare-metal hypervisor that is now largely obsolete and no longer officially supported
FREE or TRIAL? VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.5 - Virtualization
Understanding VMware ESXi 5.5 Licensing: A Comprehensive Guide license key vmware esxi 5.5
: Input your 25-character alphanumeric key and click OK . Common Licensing Types for 5.5 License Tier Primary Use Case Free Hypervisor Home labs / Single hosts No vCenter support, limited physical CPUs, no vMotion. Essentials / Essentials Plus Small businesses
It could not be managed by vCenter Server. Without vCenter, premium features like vMotion and High Availability (HA) remained locked.
Running ESXi 5.5 in 2026 is not sustainable. The secure, supported, and recommended path is to . Here is a practical recommended approach: To inject a license key over an active
There are three primary licensing states for an ESXi 5.5 host, each with different capabilities and purposes.
If your ESXi 5.5 host is managed centrally by a vCenter Server 5.5 instance: Log in to the via your browser. Navigate to Administration > Licensing > Licenses . Click the Plus (+) icon to add a new license key.
If you need a step‑by‑step installation guide for ESXi 5.5 (e.g., evaluation mode), let me know and I can provide that separately. Common Licensing Types for 5
Enter the Hostname or IP address of the ESXi 5.5 server alongside root credentials. Select the host in the left-hand inventory pane. Click on the tab in the main viewing pane. Under the Software sub-menu, click on Licensed Features .
Product: VMware ESXi 5.5 Enterprise Plus Usage: 1 CPU (16 Cores)