Purpose
When a new version of a product is released, the older versions are no longer available for purchase. Downgrading a license key allows you to use an older version of a product. If you downgrade a license key, you can revert to the newer version by upgrading the license key.
For more information, see Upgrading license keys in My VMware (2006974).
Only Super Users, Procurement Contacts, and users with Upgrade & Downgrade License Keys permissions can downgrade a license key.
Not all products are eligible for downgrade. When you select Downgrade License Keys from the I want to drop-down, you only see products that can be downgraded.
Notes:
- The downgrade option is not available for ESXi 4 Single Server to ESXi 3.x.
- The downgrade option is not available for vSphere Essentials to VI3.
- For licenses downgraded to ESX 3.x or Site Recovery Manager 1.x, the original licenses are not decreased or affected and the downgrade process cannot be reversed.
- Workstation 8 licenses can be downgraded to Workstation 7.x licenses.
- Site Recovery Manager 5 has two different editions: Standard and Enterprise. You can downgrade the Site Recovery Manager 5 Enterprise licenses, but you cannot downgrade Site Recovery Manager 5 Standard licenses.
Version Comparison Chart
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