While VMware ESXi 6.5 was once a staple for home labs and small businesses through its free edition, Broadcom officially discontinued the free vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) in February 2024
Here is a breakdown of why the ESXi 6.5 Free ISO is still worth downloading today.
Enter a password for the root user. This is the password you will use to log in to manage the ESXi host. VMware mandates a strong password containing a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
Searching for a download today is a bit of a journey into legacy tech. Since this version reached its End of General Support on October 15, 2022 , finding an official "free" download has become significantly more difficult than it was during its prime. The Official Route (Broadcom Support Portal)
While VMware ESXi 6.5 was once a staple for home labs and small businesses through its free edition, Broadcom officially discontinued the free vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) in February 2024
Here is a breakdown of why the ESXi 6.5 Free ISO is still worth downloading today.
Enter a password for the root user. This is the password you will use to log in to manage the ESXi host. VMware mandates a strong password containing a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
Searching for a download today is a bit of a journey into legacy tech. Since this version reached its End of General Support on October 15, 2022 , finding an official "free" download has become significantly more difficult than it was during its prime. The Official Route (Broadcom Support Portal)
