During the installation of a small vSphere environment, I decided to use the 60-day instant-on license to test out some advanced features before committing to a full license purchase. One of the features I was eager to try out was VAAI (Virtual Appliance Audio Video Integration), which is only available in the Enterprise and Enterprise Plus licenses according to VMware’s documentation.

To my surprise, when I deployed some Windows 2008 R2 VMs using the Essentials Plus license, VAAI was enabled and functioning perfectly. I checked the VAAI stats with ESXTOP and was shocked to see that it was being used by the host, despite the fact that the Essentials Plus license does not support VAAI according to VMware’s documentation.

I reached out to Twitter for answers, but even Cormac Hogan, a prominent VMware engineer, couldn’t provide a clear explanation for this observation. After some research and testing, I discovered that VAAI is indeed available in the Essentials Plus license, but it is restricted by the EULA (End User License Agreement). If you’re not using an Enterprise or Enterprise Plus license, you should disable VAAI to avoid violating the EULA.

The discovery of VAAI being available in the Essentials Plus license has significant implications for vSphere users who are looking to use advanced features without committing to a full Enterprise or Enterprise Plus license. It also highlights the importance of carefully reading and understanding the EULA before using any advanced features in vSphere.

In conclusion, VAAI is available in the Essentials Plus license, but it is restricted by the EULA. If you’re not using an Enterprise or Enterprise Plus license, you should disable VAAI to avoid violating the EULA. This discovery has significant implications for vSphere users who are looking to use advanced features without committing to a full license purchase.