: Unlike previous versions that required a separate registration for a license key, the latest free ESXi 8.0 ISO comes with an embedded license , simplifying the initial setup. Download Path : Log in to the Broadcom Support Portal. Navigate to Software > VMware Cloud Foundation .
Major hardware manufacturers provide custom ISOs pre-loaded with specific drivers (e.g., Dell, HPE, Lenovo). These can often be found under the Custom ISOs tab in the Broadcom portal or on the manufacturer's support sites. Recent Release Versions (as of April 2026) The most recent stable builds for ESXi 8.0 include:
Use an if deploying on ProLiant hardware to maintain standard Insight Management agents. 2. System Requirements for ESXi 8 Vmware Esxi 8 Download Iso
Do you need assistance or setting up a free home lab license ?
Windows PowerShell: Get-FileHash .\image_name.iso -Algorithm SHA256 Linux/macOS Terminal: sha256sum image_name.iso : Unlike previous versions that required a separate
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The type of you plan to connect (Local SSD, iSCSI, or Fibre Channel SAN) This is ideal for homelabs
By default, your new ESXi 8 installation operates on a fully functional . To prevent your virtual machines from powering down after 60 days, you must assign a valid license key:
In April 2025, Broadcom reinstated a free version of ESXi, specifically for the 8.0 Update 3e release. This is ideal for homelabs, development, and testing environments. The free version has these features and limitations:
After downloading the ISO file, always calculate its SHA256 checksum to ensure the file was not corrupted during transmission or altered maliciously. In Windows PowerShell, run: powershell