License Models for VMware vCenter
Introduction
The License Intelligence Service (LIS) provides a couple of license models for VMware vCenter (vSphere) licensing. This article explains, how they work - however, please note that this is not a documentation of VMware licensing terms. Please check the official licensing terms publications and your agreements, contracts and purchases.
License Models
There are following licensing models for vSphere/vCenter available:
- per CPU
- per Cores
- per Virtual Machine
VMware | CPU with max. 32 Cores
This license model calculates the required quantity of licenses from the number of "32-core CPUs" of the server that is assigned to the license requirement as a consumer. CPUs with more than 32 cores are counted as a corresponding multiple CPUs.
Examples:
| Number of CPU | Cores per CPU | Required Licenses |
| 1 | 1 - 32 | 1 |
| 2 | 1 - 32 | 2 |
| 1 | 33 - 64 | 2 |
| 2 | 33 - 64 | 4 |
VMware | Cores
This license model calculates the required quantity of licenses from the number of cores of the server that is assigned to the license requirement as a consumer, considering a minimum capacity of 16 cores per CPU.
Examples:
| Number of CPU | Cores per CPU | Required Licenses |
| 1 | 16 or less | 16 |
| 2 | 16 or less | 32 |
| 1 | more than 16 (e.g. 32) | total number of cores (e.g. 32) |
| 2 | more than 16 (e.g. 32) | total number of cores (e.g. 64) |
VMware | Virtual Machines
This license model calculates the required quantity of licenses from the number of virtual machines hosted on the server that is assigned to the license requirement as a consumer.