Previously, VMware offered a 60-day evaluation of ESXi 5.5 without a support contract. This program ended in 2017. Links to evaluation ISOs now redirect to vSphere 7/8 trials.
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.
Select from the boot menu. Wait for the installer files to extract into memory. Press Enter on the Welcome screen to proceed. Press F11 to accept the End User License Agreement (EULA).
Deploying a hypervisor released in the early 2010s carries strict operational risks that cannot be overlooked. 1. Unpatched Security Vulnerabilities
If you are looking for this ISO for a home lab or to support ancient hardware, enthusiasts often use these alternatives:
Finding an official download for is increasingly difficult because the version reached its End of General Support on September 19, 2018, and its End of Technical Guidance on September 19, 2020. Following Broadcom's acquisition of VMware, the legacy "Customer Connect" portal has been replaced by the Broadcom Support Portal , where old, unmaintained versions like 5.5 are typically restricted to users with active support contracts. Direct Download Sources
Once the ISO is sourced, write it to a USB flash drive or mount it via an out-of-band management console (Dell iDRAC, HPE iLO, or Cisco CIMC). For USB creation on Windows, utilities like Rufus can be used; ensure you select the standard MBR partition scheme for legacy BIOS compatibility. Step 2: Initialize the Boot Sequence
Hardware vendors often host their own customized versions of ESXi 5.5 (containing specific drivers for their servers), which can sometimes be easier to find: Dell-customized ESXi 5.5 Update 3 is available for specific PowerEdge servers Custom images exist on the HPE Support Center
Since support ended in 2018, using this version in production environments carries security risks. Where to Find the VMware ESXi 5.5 ISO Download
While the standard Broadcom portal may show "not entitled" for 5.5, hardware-specific "Custom ISOs" are often still hosted by manufacturers for legacy server maintenance:
Use a tool like Rufus or Etcher to burn the ISO to a USB flash drive or CD.
Insert a blank into your workstation. Launch the free utility Rufus . Select your USB drive under the "Device" dropdown. Click "Select" and choose your downloaded ESXi 5.5 ISO .
3. Community and Alternative Repositories (Caution Required)
Reset the server and configure it to boot from the virtual CD/DVD-ROM drive. Managing Your Legacy ESXi 5.5 Host
Intel VT-x or AMD-V must be enabled in the system BIOS.
Previously, VMware offered a 60-day evaluation of ESXi 5.5 without a support contract. This program ended in 2017. Links to evaluation ISOs now redirect to vSphere 7/8 trials.
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.
Select from the boot menu. Wait for the installer files to extract into memory. Press Enter on the Welcome screen to proceed. Press F11 to accept the End User License Agreement (EULA).
Deploying a hypervisor released in the early 2010s carries strict operational risks that cannot be overlooked. 1. Unpatched Security Vulnerabilities vmware esxi 5.5 iso download
If you are looking for this ISO for a home lab or to support ancient hardware, enthusiasts often use these alternatives:
Finding an official download for is increasingly difficult because the version reached its End of General Support on September 19, 2018, and its End of Technical Guidance on September 19, 2020. Following Broadcom's acquisition of VMware, the legacy "Customer Connect" portal has been replaced by the Broadcom Support Portal , where old, unmaintained versions like 5.5 are typically restricted to users with active support contracts. Direct Download Sources
Once the ISO is sourced, write it to a USB flash drive or mount it via an out-of-band management console (Dell iDRAC, HPE iLO, or Cisco CIMC). For USB creation on Windows, utilities like Rufus can be used; ensure you select the standard MBR partition scheme for legacy BIOS compatibility. Step 2: Initialize the Boot Sequence Previously, VMware offered a 60-day evaluation of ESXi 5
Hardware vendors often host their own customized versions of ESXi 5.5 (containing specific drivers for their servers), which can sometimes be easier to find: Dell-customized ESXi 5.5 Update 3 is available for specific PowerEdge servers Custom images exist on the HPE Support Center
Since support ended in 2018, using this version in production environments carries security risks. Where to Find the VMware ESXi 5.5 ISO Download
While the standard Broadcom portal may show "not entitled" for 5.5, hardware-specific "Custom ISOs" are often still hosted by manufacturers for legacy server maintenance: VMware ESXi 5
Use a tool like Rufus or Etcher to burn the ISO to a USB flash drive or CD.
Insert a blank into your workstation. Launch the free utility Rufus . Select your USB drive under the "Device" dropdown. Click "Select" and choose your downloaded ESXi 5.5 ISO .
3. Community and Alternative Repositories (Caution Required)
Reset the server and configure it to boot from the virtual CD/DVD-ROM drive. Managing Your Legacy ESXi 5.5 Host
Intel VT-x or AMD-V must be enabled in the system BIOS.