Before you install the downloaded ISO, ensure your hardware meets these minimum requirements (for ESXi 8.0):
Once logged in, the interface can be confusing. Here is the path:
VMware Customer Connect - ESXi Free
You will be presented with a list of available versions.
A useful feature when downloading (now managed by Broadcom) is the availability of vendor-customized ISO files , which pre-integrate critical drivers for specific hardware. Why Vendor-Customized ISOs are Useful
Upon installation, ESXi will run in evaluation mode for 60 days.
