Leo finally found the email buried in a junk folder. It wasn't a single key, but a "Master Entitlement" code. He jumped into the Broadcom support portal , used the "Split License" tool to carve out exactly what his hosts needed, and copied the 25-character string.

: The platform includes built-in compliance reporting and license usage APIs to track core consumption in real-time. Managing License Keys

: When installing the latest versions (like Workstation 17), simply select the "Personal Use" option during setup; it will run with full features without asking for a key.

It sounds like you are looking for details on licensing, which has undergone a massive shift from previous versions. Specifically, "hot" might refer to the 90-day evaluation period or the new, highly discussed subscription-only model. Key Changes in VMware 9.0 Licensing

: VMware Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro are now free for personal use via registration.

: Covers vSphere, vCenter, Aria Suite, Tanzu Kubernetes Grid, and NSX.