In the past, VMware offered 60-day evaluation ISOs for any version. That program has shifted to vSphere 8/9 trials only. Do not trust third-party sites claiming to host official 60-day trials—they are likely tampered.
Once logged in, navigating to the specific version can be tricky as the interface changes. Generally, follow these steps:
Many organizations that migrated from ESXi 5.5 to newer versions still keep a "cold storage" ISO. If you work in IT, check:
Always ask your IT security team before installing—they may have policies against EOL software.
If you download from any source, always verify the checksum to ensure the ISO has not been tampered with.
Example checksums for ESXi 5.5 Update 3b (Build 3568722):
Verification commands:
Note: Actual checksums are published in VMware KB articles (e.g., KB 2096145). Always cross-reference.
VMware ESXi 5.5, released in September 2013, was a landmark hypervisor in the virtualization industry. It introduced several enterprise-grade features such as support for 62 TB virtual disks, 4 TB of RAM per host, and improved vSphere Web Client functionality. For years, it served as the backbone of countless data centers, test labs, and development environments. However, as technology has advanced, obtaining the ESXi 5.5 ISO today is not as straightforward as downloading the latest version. This guide provides a detailed overview of the process, important considerations regarding end-of-life (EOL), legitimate sources, and alternative solutions.
1. End of Life (EOL) Risks
2. Legal Usage
3. Alternatives
4. Legacy Use Cases
Finding a VMware ESXi 5.5 ISO download is becoming increasingly difficult as VMware transitions its portals and sunsets legacy products. If you require this version for a critical legacy system, ensure you download the ISO and store it securely on a local backup drive immediately, as future access is not guaranteed.
The process for a VMware ESXi 5.5 ISO download has changed significantly due to Broadcom's acquisition of VMware and the product reaching its official end-of-life (EOL). Official Download Status
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.5 is a legacy version that reached the End of General Support on September 19, 2018, and the End of Technical Guidance on September 19, 2020.
Broadcom Support Portal: Standard "free" trial downloads for ESXi are no longer available to the general public without an active support contract. While the files may appear in the Broadcom Support Portal under "My Downloads," users without a valid entitlement or "Site ID" will likely see a "not entitled" message.
OEM Custom Images: Hardware manufacturers like Dell, HPE, and Lenovo often provide their own customized ISOs that include specific drivers for their servers. These are sometimes still accessible on their respective support sites.
Dell Users: You can search for the VMware ESXi 5.5 Image on the Dell Support site using your server's Service Tag. vmware esxi 5.5 iso download
HPE Users: Customized images can occasionally be found by navigating through the HPE Support Center. Installation & Deployment Steps
Once you have secured an ISO, follow these general steps to install the hypervisor:
Verify Hardware Compatibility: Ensure your server hardware is compatible with version 5.5, as newer CPUs and NICs may not have drivers in this legacy installer.
Create Bootable Media: Use tools like Rufus to burn the ISO to a USB flash drive or use a physical CD/DVD.
Boot and Install: Set your server to boot from the installation media and follow the on-screen prompts to select a target disk for the ESXi OS.
Initial Configuration: Use the Direct Console User Interface (DCUI) to set a static IP address and root password. Managing the Host In the past, VMware offered 60-day evaluation ISOs
Because version 5.5 is dated, modern web browsers may struggle with its legacy management tools.