Includes full web-based management, backup tools, and clustering out of the box.
Broadcom has streamlined and modernized the hypervisor lineup significantly. For a modern, secure home lab, you should use (supported until October 2027) or 7.0. The process for obtaining a free license for these modern versions is identical to the one for 5.5: register on the Broadcom/VMware portal. The modern free version retains the same core limitations (8 vCPU per VM, no vCenter) but runs on modern hardware and, crucially, receives critical security patches. esxi 5.5 license key github