Esxi free
Author: d | 2025-04-23
Table of Contents VMware ESXi Overview ESXi Free vs Paid – Differences ESXi Free (VMware Hypervisor) – Limitations Entry Level Package or Cheapest package of ESXi VMware vSphere Editions Free ESXi use case Downloading Free ESXi VMware ESXi 6.7 Features and Latest versions Summary VMware [] Table of Contents VMware ESXi Overview ESXi Free vs Paid – Differences ESXi Free (VMware Hypervisor) – Limitations Entry Level Package or Cheapest package of ESXi VMware vSphere Editions Free ESXi use case Downloading Free ESXi VMware ESXi 6.7 Features and Latest versions Summary VMware []
Backup ESXi, vCenter, ESXi Free and Replication
Is VMware ESXi Free?VMware ESXi is a popular hypervisor used for virtualizing servers and running multiple virtual machines (VMs) on a single physical host. Many organizations and individuals use ESXi to increase server efficiency, reduce costs, and improve flexibility. But one of the most common questions about ESXi is: Is VMware ESXi free?Direct Answer: No, VMware ESXi is not entirely freeWhile VMware does offer a free version of ESXi, it comes with some limitations and restrictions. The free version is known as VMware ESXi Embedded or VMware ESXi Free, and it is designed for home labs, small businesses, and non-production environments.What is VMware ESXi Embedded?VMware ESXi Embedded is a free version of ESXi that is embedded into a hardware device, such as a server or a NAS (Network-Attached Storage) device. It is designed to provide a basic virtualization platform for small-scale deployments. The Embedded version of ESXi is free, but it has some limitations compared to the paid version.What are the limitations of VMware ESXi Embedded?Here are some of the key limitations of VMware ESXi Embedded:• Limited CPU support: ESXi Embedded supports up to 4 CPUs.• Limited RAM support: ESXi Embedded supports up to 32 GB of RAM.• Limited storage support: ESXi Embedded supports up to 2 TB of storage.• Limited number of VMs: ESXi Embedded supports up to 4 VMs.• No vSphere Web Client: ESXi Embedded does not include the vSphere Web Client, which is used to manage and monitor ESXi hosts.• Limited technical support: ESXi Embedded has limited technical support, with no priority support or extended support options.What are the benefits of using VMware ESXi Embedded?Despite its limitations, VMware ESXi Embedded has some benefits:• Free: ESXi Embedded is free to use, making it an attractive option for small businesses or individuals who want to try out virtualization without committing to a paid license.• Easy to use: ESXi Embedded is easy to install and configure, making it a great option for those who are new to virtualization.• Supports popular VM formats: ESXi Embedded supports popular VM formats such as VMDK, VHD, and VHDX.What are the differences between VMware ESXi Embedded and VMware ESXi Paid?Here are some of the key differences between VMware ESXi Embedded and VMware ESXi Paid:FeatureVMware ESXi EmbeddedVMware ESXi PaidCPU SupportUp to 4 CPUsUnlimited CPUsRAM SupportUp to 32 GBUnlimited RAMStorage SupportUp to 2 TBUnlimited storageNumber of VMsUp to 4Unlimited VMsvSphere Web ClientNot includedIncludedTechnical SupportLimited supportPriority and extended
Backup ESXi, vCenter, ESXi Free and Replication with Iperius
No more free ESXi? 1. No more free ESXi? Posted Feb 24, 2014 09:44 AM Hi!I tought the ESXi Hypervisor was free, so i downloaded ESXi 5 and installed it on a HP-rack-server.The only way to manage a Guest-OS is to install vSphere Client and it says it is only a 60 days trial.I was thinking maybe its the vSphere Client that is on triel, but when i look at the ESXi, it also says "trial".Is there some sort of free ESXi or do i need to buy it?Without vSphere Client, how do i manage Guest-OX? In CLI?RS 2. RE: No more free ESXi? Posted Feb 24, 2014 09:59 AM Hi,after installation the ESXi is in the 60 day evaluation mode, where all enterprise+ features are activated.You need to register here: Download VMware vSphere Hypervisor for FreeYou will get a serial number that will put your ESXi into the free mode.Tim 3. RE: No more free ESXi? Posted Feb 24, 2014 10:35 AM Hi Ronny,You can manage guest via CLI if it supports. you can ssh to the guest OS.Thanks and Regards,Shrikant Gavhane. 4. RE: No more free ESXi? Posted Feb 24, 2014 10:45 AM Once you got the free license key from the link provided earlier by Tim, follow the steps for "Licensing a standalone ESXi host" in 5. RE: No more free ESXi? Posted Feb 24, 2014 12:21 PM Thanks for answering!Just one problem! I don't have any "Manage vSphere Licenses" under Administration section in vSphere Client.My ESXi is registred and i have a licens-key, but i don't know where to enter the key :-o 6. RE: No more free ESXi? Best Answer Posted Feb 24, 2014 12:27 PM That's only valid for vCenter.You need to follow the instructions to license a standalone host from the KB article André linked:To license a standalone ESXi 5.x (vSphere Hypervisor):Log in to the ESXi host using vSphere Client.Click the Configuration tab.Click Licensed Features under Software.Click Edit under Licensed Features.Select Assign a new license key to this host.Press Enter and enter the License Key.Click OK.Tim 7. RE: No more free ESXi? Posted Feb 24, 2014 12:43 PM Thanks!It works!I guess in some days the vSphere Client will stop working and i have to use CLI.Is there a way to set up SSH on the ESXi-host? Or can i only use CLI on console? 8. RE: No more free ESXi? Posted Feb 24, 2014 12:49 PM The vSphere Client won't stop working. The evaluation time was only shown for the ESXi Only problem is that when you create a VM with hardware level 10 ( compatible for ESXi 5.5 ) you can't edit the VMs settings with the vSphere client anymore, as the management functions are shifted to the new vSphere webclient, which is unfortunately only available with a vCenter server at the moment.TimUnderstanding the 8vCPU limit of ESXi Free : r/esxi - Reddit
No problem using two hex core Xeon processors, 128 GB RAM and a redundant array of independent disks set up on a single machine. Such a machine would be a potent virtualization host, even without any additional licensing. Most large production environments only use two socket hosts due to the significant cost per socket under the Enterprise license, so it makes the most sense to increase the core count and reduce physical sockets. This also explains why manufacturers began to license per core, rather than per socket. A server that uses free ESXi can support a large number of VMs. You might notice during day-to-day operations that you can't cluster servers or perform a storage vMotion while servers are still active. You can still move VMs between data stores, but it's a more complex process and requires downtime. Be aware of deal breakers in free ESXi Built-in monitoring is another feature absent from the free edition of ESXi. This can be an issue, depending on your environment. This last item might be a deal breaker for some: The free version of ESXi does not offer Active Directory integration. Customers can still have their own account to log in with -- which provides a degree of attribution -- they just need to add users directly to the host. I've noticed in smaller commercial enterprise spaces that designs from some providers use multiple dual redundant VMs; one on each host. Load-balancing logic is built into self-healing applications. You can avoid the cost. Table of Contents VMware ESXi Overview ESXi Free vs Paid – Differences ESXi Free (VMware Hypervisor) – Limitations Entry Level Package or Cheapest package of ESXi VMware vSphere Editions Free ESXi use case Downloading Free ESXi VMware ESXi 6.7 Features and Latest versions Summary VMware [] Table of Contents VMware ESXi Overview ESXi Free vs Paid – Differences ESXi Free (VMware Hypervisor) – Limitations Entry Level Package or Cheapest package of ESXi VMware vSphere Editions Free ESXi use case Downloading Free ESXi VMware ESXi 6.7 Features and Latest versions Summary VMware []ESXi is free So why would you buy an ESXi
VMware's ESXi hypervisor is free to license and use, but its capabilities are limited without vSphere. You get what you pay for. VMware customers can use ESXi to build powerful virtualization platforms, but the hypervisor without vCenter and the vSphere client has serious shortcomings that make it better suited for small organizations than an enterprise. Naturally, software you pay for offers more. In this case, free ESXi lacks tools and features such as vMotion, Fault Tolerance and vSAN, all of which require a minimum of three nodes to run. The limitations of free ESXi fall into two categories: hardware and functionality. Difference between ESXi and vSphere The terms ESXi and vSphere are sometimes used interchangeably, but it's important to understand the difference when you compare free and supported versions. ESXi is a type-1 hypervisor available for free download. Customers have the option to purchase commercial support and software, called vCenter, to help manage multiple ESXi installations. VMware vSphere is the name of a software bundle that includes the free ESXi hypervisor, vCenter and the vSphere management client. VMware offers a variety of licensing options for vSphere for companies that need advanced features and professional support. Free ESXi limitations VMware has tried to eliminate the physical restrictions from the free ESXi hypervisor. For example, the memory limitation in ESXi 5 was set to 32 GB. The most current version of ESXi (6.7) has no hardware limitations other than a maximum of two physical CPUs and eight vCPUs per VM. There isUsing ESXi Shell in ESXi - myBroadcom
PC and Server where Iperius is installed, making Iperius Console an extremely useful IT Monitoring tool, both for your customers and your company. More information The best remote desktop and remote support software --> Iperius Remote is a lightweight and efficient remote desktop software. Connect remotely to any Windows or MAC computer for technical support, presentations, customer support and remote work. Here are some of its most important features: Remote Desktop for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS File transfer (delta) and folder transfer Unlimited remote devices and unlimited users Unattended access Group policies and user permissions management Connection time statistics Full rebranding (custom client) Remote printing Video recording of sessions End-to-end encryption: TLS 1.3, DTLS-SRTP (HIPAA/GDPR) More information Professional Cloud Backup, from 50 GB to 3 TB - FTPS or S3 --> The professional space for online data backup. Cloud backup via FTPS or S3 protocol, with storage plans from 50 GB to 3 TB. Data is safe from failures, theft, viruses, or environmental disasters. Unlimited connections and ISO 27001/GDPR certification. More information Supported features: Drive Image Full system backup and disaster recovery for workstations and servers. Recovery disc creation. Bare-metal restore even to dissimilar hardware. File-level recovery and restore to virtual environments. Hard disk to SSD cloning. Iperius can create images of the whole disk, to allow you to automatically reinstall the system in a few clicks (bare metal restore). The disk image is made without any interruption or reboot (hot backup), and you can also restore it to dissimilar hardware. VMware ESXi / Hyper-V Incremental Hyper-V (RCT) and VMware (CBT) backup. For ESXi, vCenter and ESXi Free. Replication even between ESXi Free hosts. Full or file-level recovery (granular restore). No per-socket, per-VM or per-host limitation. Incremental and differential backup (CBT) of ESXi and ESXi Free. Incremental replication even between ESXi Free hosts. Compatible with vCenter and ESXi Cluster. Incremental and differential backup of Hyper-V (RCT). Automatic restore also on different hosts and recovery of single files. Cloud, Google Drive, S3 A unique and powerful solution to make offsite backups to Amazon S3, Google Drive, Dropbox, Azure Storage, OneDrive, FTP or SFTP servers, Iperius Storage, Wasabi, Aruba Cloud, Backblaze and any S3 compatible storage. Iperius can automatically send your backups to the most known an reliable cloud storage services, to easily have online backups on Google Drive, Amazon S3, Azure Storage, OneDrive, OneDrive For Business or Dropbox, with zipFree VMware ESXi: Restrictions and
Is ESXi 5.5.0 evaluation license limited to 8 cores? beckham007fifaJan 22, 2014 04:51 PM YES...It’s not often that one would need to run at home 8 vCPU VMs 1. Is ESXi 5.5.0 evaluation license limited to 8 cores? Posted Jan 22, 2014 04:41 PM I am running ESXi 5.5 under the evaluation license and can not configure a VM with more that 8 cores, and the host system has 16 cores available. Is this due to a evaluation license restriction? 2. RE: Is ESXi 5.5.0 evaluation license limited to 8 cores? Posted Jan 22, 2014 04:51 PM YES...It’s not often that one would need to run at home 8 vCPU VMs 3. RE: Is ESXi 5.5.0 evaluation license limited to 8 cores? Posted Jan 22, 2014 05:18 PM While in evaluation (i.e. no license key entered) you are basically running the Enterprise Plus edition which isn't limited to 8 vCPUs. I guess you are running the free Hypervisor edition which has this limitation.André. Table of Contents VMware ESXi Overview ESXi Free vs Paid – Differences ESXi Free (VMware Hypervisor) – Limitations Entry Level Package or Cheapest package of ESXi VMware vSphere Editions Free ESXi use case Downloading Free ESXi VMware ESXi 6.7 Features and Latest versions Summary VMware [] Table of Contents VMware ESXi Overview ESXi Free vs Paid – Differences ESXi Free (VMware Hypervisor) – Limitations Entry Level Package or Cheapest package of ESXi VMware vSphere Editions Free ESXi use case Downloading Free ESXi VMware ESXi 6.7 Features and Latest versions Summary VMware []Comments
Is VMware ESXi Free?VMware ESXi is a popular hypervisor used for virtualizing servers and running multiple virtual machines (VMs) on a single physical host. Many organizations and individuals use ESXi to increase server efficiency, reduce costs, and improve flexibility. But one of the most common questions about ESXi is: Is VMware ESXi free?Direct Answer: No, VMware ESXi is not entirely freeWhile VMware does offer a free version of ESXi, it comes with some limitations and restrictions. The free version is known as VMware ESXi Embedded or VMware ESXi Free, and it is designed for home labs, small businesses, and non-production environments.What is VMware ESXi Embedded?VMware ESXi Embedded is a free version of ESXi that is embedded into a hardware device, such as a server or a NAS (Network-Attached Storage) device. It is designed to provide a basic virtualization platform for small-scale deployments. The Embedded version of ESXi is free, but it has some limitations compared to the paid version.What are the limitations of VMware ESXi Embedded?Here are some of the key limitations of VMware ESXi Embedded:• Limited CPU support: ESXi Embedded supports up to 4 CPUs.• Limited RAM support: ESXi Embedded supports up to 32 GB of RAM.• Limited storage support: ESXi Embedded supports up to 2 TB of storage.• Limited number of VMs: ESXi Embedded supports up to 4 VMs.• No vSphere Web Client: ESXi Embedded does not include the vSphere Web Client, which is used to manage and monitor ESXi hosts.• Limited technical support: ESXi Embedded has limited technical support, with no priority support or extended support options.What are the benefits of using VMware ESXi Embedded?Despite its limitations, VMware ESXi Embedded has some benefits:• Free: ESXi Embedded is free to use, making it an attractive option for small businesses or individuals who want to try out virtualization without committing to a paid license.• Easy to use: ESXi Embedded is easy to install and configure, making it a great option for those who are new to virtualization.• Supports popular VM formats: ESXi Embedded supports popular VM formats such as VMDK, VHD, and VHDX.What are the differences between VMware ESXi Embedded and VMware ESXi Paid?Here are some of the key differences between VMware ESXi Embedded and VMware ESXi Paid:FeatureVMware ESXi EmbeddedVMware ESXi PaidCPU SupportUp to 4 CPUsUnlimited CPUsRAM SupportUp to 32 GBUnlimited RAMStorage SupportUp to 2 TBUnlimited storageNumber of VMsUp to 4Unlimited VMsvSphere Web ClientNot includedIncludedTechnical SupportLimited supportPriority and extended
2025-04-05No more free ESXi? 1. No more free ESXi? Posted Feb 24, 2014 09:44 AM Hi!I tought the ESXi Hypervisor was free, so i downloaded ESXi 5 and installed it on a HP-rack-server.The only way to manage a Guest-OS is to install vSphere Client and it says it is only a 60 days trial.I was thinking maybe its the vSphere Client that is on triel, but when i look at the ESXi, it also says "trial".Is there some sort of free ESXi or do i need to buy it?Without vSphere Client, how do i manage Guest-OX? In CLI?RS 2. RE: No more free ESXi? Posted Feb 24, 2014 09:59 AM Hi,after installation the ESXi is in the 60 day evaluation mode, where all enterprise+ features are activated.You need to register here: Download VMware vSphere Hypervisor for FreeYou will get a serial number that will put your ESXi into the free mode.Tim 3. RE: No more free ESXi? Posted Feb 24, 2014 10:35 AM Hi Ronny,You can manage guest via CLI if it supports. you can ssh to the guest OS.Thanks and Regards,Shrikant Gavhane. 4. RE: No more free ESXi? Posted Feb 24, 2014 10:45 AM Once you got the free license key from the link provided earlier by Tim, follow the steps for "Licensing a standalone ESXi host" in 5. RE: No more free ESXi? Posted Feb 24, 2014 12:21 PM Thanks for answering!Just one problem! I don't have any "Manage vSphere Licenses" under Administration section in vSphere Client.My ESXi is registred and i have a licens-key, but i don't know where to enter the key :-o 6. RE: No more free ESXi? Best Answer Posted Feb 24, 2014 12:27 PM That's only valid for vCenter.You need to follow the instructions to license a standalone host from the KB article André linked:To license a standalone ESXi 5.x (vSphere Hypervisor):Log in to the ESXi host using vSphere Client.Click the Configuration tab.Click Licensed Features under Software.Click Edit under Licensed Features.Select Assign a new license key to this host.Press Enter and enter the License Key.Click OK.Tim 7. RE: No more free ESXi? Posted Feb 24, 2014 12:43 PM Thanks!It works!I guess in some days the vSphere Client will stop working and i have to use CLI.Is there a way to set up SSH on the ESXi-host? Or can i only use CLI on console? 8. RE: No more free ESXi? Posted Feb 24, 2014 12:49 PM The vSphere Client won't stop working. The evaluation time was only shown for the ESXi Only problem is that when you create a VM with hardware level 10 ( compatible for ESXi 5.5 ) you can't edit the VMs settings with the vSphere client anymore, as the management functions are shifted to the new vSphere webclient, which is unfortunately only available with a vCenter server at the moment.Tim
2025-04-14VMware's ESXi hypervisor is free to license and use, but its capabilities are limited without vSphere. You get what you pay for. VMware customers can use ESXi to build powerful virtualization platforms, but the hypervisor without vCenter and the vSphere client has serious shortcomings that make it better suited for small organizations than an enterprise. Naturally, software you pay for offers more. In this case, free ESXi lacks tools and features such as vMotion, Fault Tolerance and vSAN, all of which require a minimum of three nodes to run. The limitations of free ESXi fall into two categories: hardware and functionality. Difference between ESXi and vSphere The terms ESXi and vSphere are sometimes used interchangeably, but it's important to understand the difference when you compare free and supported versions. ESXi is a type-1 hypervisor available for free download. Customers have the option to purchase commercial support and software, called vCenter, to help manage multiple ESXi installations. VMware vSphere is the name of a software bundle that includes the free ESXi hypervisor, vCenter and the vSphere management client. VMware offers a variety of licensing options for vSphere for companies that need advanced features and professional support. Free ESXi limitations VMware has tried to eliminate the physical restrictions from the free ESXi hypervisor. For example, the memory limitation in ESXi 5 was set to 32 GB. The most current version of ESXi (6.7) has no hardware limitations other than a maximum of two physical CPUs and eight vCPUs per VM. There is
2025-04-23PC and Server where Iperius is installed, making Iperius Console an extremely useful IT Monitoring tool, both for your customers and your company. More information The best remote desktop and remote support software --> Iperius Remote is a lightweight and efficient remote desktop software. Connect remotely to any Windows or MAC computer for technical support, presentations, customer support and remote work. Here are some of its most important features: Remote Desktop for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS File transfer (delta) and folder transfer Unlimited remote devices and unlimited users Unattended access Group policies and user permissions management Connection time statistics Full rebranding (custom client) Remote printing Video recording of sessions End-to-end encryption: TLS 1.3, DTLS-SRTP (HIPAA/GDPR) More information Professional Cloud Backup, from 50 GB to 3 TB - FTPS or S3 --> The professional space for online data backup. Cloud backup via FTPS or S3 protocol, with storage plans from 50 GB to 3 TB. Data is safe from failures, theft, viruses, or environmental disasters. Unlimited connections and ISO 27001/GDPR certification. More information Supported features: Drive Image Full system backup and disaster recovery for workstations and servers. Recovery disc creation. Bare-metal restore even to dissimilar hardware. File-level recovery and restore to virtual environments. Hard disk to SSD cloning. Iperius can create images of the whole disk, to allow you to automatically reinstall the system in a few clicks (bare metal restore). The disk image is made without any interruption or reboot (hot backup), and you can also restore it to dissimilar hardware. VMware ESXi / Hyper-V Incremental Hyper-V (RCT) and VMware (CBT) backup. For ESXi, vCenter and ESXi Free. Replication even between ESXi Free hosts. Full or file-level recovery (granular restore). No per-socket, per-VM or per-host limitation. Incremental and differential backup (CBT) of ESXi and ESXi Free. Incremental replication even between ESXi Free hosts. Compatible with vCenter and ESXi Cluster. Incremental and differential backup of Hyper-V (RCT). Automatic restore also on different hosts and recovery of single files. Cloud, Google Drive, S3 A unique and powerful solution to make offsite backups to Amazon S3, Google Drive, Dropbox, Azure Storage, OneDrive, FTP or SFTP servers, Iperius Storage, Wasabi, Aruba Cloud, Backblaze and any S3 compatible storage. Iperius can automatically send your backups to the most known an reliable cloud storage services, to easily have online backups on Google Drive, Amazon S3, Azure Storage, OneDrive, OneDrive For Business or Dropbox, with zip
2025-04-14