With the 5.5 code now announced and generally available, the article below is largely superseded by the simpler, newer, shinier article:
Download all the VMware vSphere 5.5 pieces to get your home lab started
Original article appears below, with timeline of URL publication status appended below. Here's a short, easily shared link to this page, bit.ly/downloadesxi55
All the bits are the same, regardless of the source. Licensing is where things differ.
The ESXi 6 evaluation license is valid for 60 days and a free one can be obtained from VMware at anytime. Resetting the evaluation license provides continual access to all the features available, and most importantly for me, full compatibility with the ESXi Embedded Host Client. I don't know if this is limited to paid keys, but for my Enterprise keys I can convert from 6.0 down to 5.5 or 5.0 and back up again if needed. Hello, Does anybody have any details on how I might go about getting a license for ESXi 5.5 now that 6 has been released? I have attempted to use the license for 6 on 5.5 but with no luck.
If you have a VMware Account and license keys:
Start here:
my.vmware.com/web/vmware/info/slug/datacenter_cloud_infrastructure/vmware_vsphere_hypervisor_esxi/5_5
You may encounter the unfortunate 'Unable to Complete Your Request We cannot complete your request at this time. We are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible' error..
Here's another URL that leads you to all the ESXi versions:
www.vmware.com/go/download-vspherehypervisor
once you choose 5.5 in the drop down menu, you get to the same place however.
[These issues went away Sunday Sep 22, 2013, once VMware brought the links back online]
Grab that VCSA (VMware vCenter Server Appliance) too, you're going to need it! Look for the 4 'VMware vCenter Server Appliance' files here:
my.vmware.com/group/vmware/details?downloadGroup=VC550&productId=352&rPId=4260
If you're looking for the free VMware vSphere ESXi 5.5 Hypervisor:
This general link that's worked for a long time doesn't seem to link to a helpful page at the moment:
www.vmware.com/go/get-free-esxi
You might also try this link:
my.vmware.com/group/vmware/evalcenter?p=free-esxi5&lp=default
Grab that VCSA (VMware vCenter Server Appliance) too, you're going to need it! Look for the 4 'VMware vCenter Server Appliance' files here:
my.vmware.com/group/vmware/details?downloadGroup=VC550&productId=352&rPId=4260
If you're looking to sign up to receive a 60-day evaluation of vSphere 5.5, including ESXi 5.5:
Visit either
[www.vmware.com/products/vsphere/features-esxi-hypervisor]( http://www.vmware.com/products/vsphere/features-esxi-hypervisor)
[www.vmware.com/go/evaluate-vsphere-en]( http://www.vmware.com/products/vsphere/features-esxi-hypervisor)
then fill out the form, which it confirms. Not sure when those requests will get filled.
[turns out, at 2:05pm ET on Sep 22, an email went out inviting folks who signed up to download]
If you're just looking for VMware vSphere Client 5.5 installer:
If the above links all fail, and you just want a piece of the new code, there is one link that works fine, the vSphere Client public download URL that requires no authentication. Explanation and screenshots right on TinkerTry.com, over here.
Changelog:
Sep 20 2013 02:37am ET - The download URLs for VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) have gone live! RTM (Release to Manufacture), GA (Generally Available), whatever you want to call it. So the release is apparently happening, despite no new press release, so far.
Sep 20 2013 12:42pm ET - The first obviously 5.5 related URL below no longer shows a drop down menu for 5.5, reverting to 5.1 as the latest available. This is a step backward from earlier today, so apparently VMware just isn't quite ready yet.
Vmware Esxi 6.5 Free License Key
Follow @tinkererguy on Twitter and I'll do my best to notify you, once I've achieved download success, although I will be on a plane to Indianapolis shortly. All information that appears below is subject to change at any time, to give you the latest links that work. Please visit again later for the latest info, or follow @tinkererguy to get alerted to updated info.
Sep 22 2013 02:22pm ET - You heard it here first, by commenter Joey y DiJulio below:
Ladies and gentlemen... Start your emgines! Its working... YAY!!!!
Thank you Joey, your comment seemed particularly appropriate, as I'm sitting in Indianapolis Airport right near a race car. Go go downloads! If you're looking for a short URL version of this page to share:
bit.ly/downloadesxi55
gets you to:
VMware-VMvisor-Installer-5.5.0-1331820.x86_64.iso
which means my recent YouTube video about 62TB virtual drives was of the RTM code.
Sep 22 2013 03:06 pm ET - Duncan Epping's Yellow Bricks list of links:
yellow-bricks.com/2013/09/22/start-engines-time-download-vsphere-5-5
vSphere 6.5 has been released and as known from previous versions, VMware provides a free version of their Hypervisor ESXi for everyone again. The license key can be created for free at VMwares website. It has no expiration date. The binaries you will receive as 'Free Hypervisor' are 100% identical to the paid version.
Limitations
- No support
- Free ESXi cannot be added to a vCenter Server
- 2 physical CPUs
- Unlimited cores per CPU
- Unlimited physical Memory
- max. 8 vCPU per VM
- Go to VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 6.5 Download Page
- Login or create an account
- Register for ESXi (Enter some personal information)
After registration, you will receive a unique license key and access to the binaries. If you already have an ESXi 6.0 license key, you don't need to sign up for a new key. - Download VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.5 - Binaries
- Install ESXi to your Hardware (Create a Bootable ESXi Installer USB Flash Drive)
- Login as root with the Embedded Host Client (https://<ESX>/ui/)
- Navigate to Manage -> Licensing
- Click Assign license and enter your license key
Free Software License
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