Since the acquisition by Broadcom, the download process has changed slightly. You now need a account.
To download ESXi 8 for free, you'll need to create a free account on the VMware website and then access the VMware Evaluation Center. Here's a step-by-step guide: download esxi 8 free
When the server reboots, you will see the —a black and yellow text screen showing the IP address and system status. Since the acquisition by Broadcom, the download process
⚠️ The free version has no official VMware support and you’ll see an “evaluation expired” nag, but it continues working. Since the acquisition by Broadcom
Go to VMware Customer Connect → Search “ESXi 8” → Download ISO → Install.