If Broadcom's subscription shift makes ESXi completely inaccessible for your budget, consider migrating your home lab to highly capable open-source alternatives:

The perpetual "Free ESXi" license that required no renewal is no longer offered for new users. Legit Ways to Use VMware for Free or Low Cost

Users can gain legal, safe access to the software suite through verified ecosystems:

A powerful, open-source virtualization platform based on Debian Linux. It includes built-in backup solutions, clustering, and supports both KVM virtual machines and LXC containers out of the box.

Searching for "VMware ESXi 9" currently yields no official results because .

Searching for a is a high-risk endeavor that should be avoided. The potential for malware, system instability, and legal complications far outweighs the cost of a legitimate license, especially when legal alternatives like the 90-day trial or VMUG Advantage are available.

Using pirated software is illegal. Under Broadcom's ownership, compliance auditing has become more rigorous. If your organization is found using illegitimate ESXi 9 keys, you face potential lawsuits, massive fines, and a damaged reputation. 4. No Support or Updates

; licensing is now managed through the VCF Operations console. Risks of GitHub "Repacks" and Keys VMware vSphere Product Line Comparison