For testing and non-production environments, you can register on the Broadcom Support Portal to obtain a free trial or evaluation license. These keys are legal and safe. 2. VMware vSphere Hypervisor (Free Version)
To help find the right path for your infrastructure, please let me know: esxi 9 license key github
If you are looking for the latest stable build to install, the current versions as of early 2026 are: ESX 9.0.2.0 (Build 25148076) – Released January 20, 2026. ESXi 8.0 Update 3i VMware vSphere Hypervisor (Free Version) To help find
Some scripts attempt to patch the ESXi host’s licensing subsystem by modifying /etc/vmware/license.cfg or running vim-cmd vimsvc/license . These actions can corrupt your hypervisor installation and expose the host to remote exploitation. For testing and non-production environments
: Modern enterprise deployment requires per-core subscription licensing, typically bundled under vSphere Foundation or VMware Cloud Foundation.
For $210/year, the VMware User Group (VMUG) Advantage program provides for nearly the entire VMware stack, including:
Apply for academic licenses. Many universities have site-wide VMware agreements.