The official repository for downloading ESXi ISOs and patches is through the Broadcom Support Portal. Steps to Download: Sign in to the Broadcom Support Portal Downloads site. Select "VMware" as the division. Search for "vSphere" or "ESXi 5.5".
The free evaluation period lasts for 60 days. To run ESXi 5.5 long-term without enterprise features, you must apply a valid VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.5 free license key, which is increasingly difficult to register for post-Broadcom acquisition. vmware esxi 5.5 iso download
Avoid downloading ISOs from unofficial file-sharing sites (like Mega or MediaFire), as these can be tampered with. Always verify the SHA1/MD5 checksum against official documentation if you find a mirror. The official repository for downloading ESXi ISOs and
If you are deploying to a remote server, do not burn a physical drive. Search for "vSphere" or "ESXi 5
. This means there are no new security updates, hotfixes, or patches. Running this version in a production environment is a significant security risk. 2. Hardware Compatibility List (HCL)