VMware offers several types of licenses for ESXi 5.5, including:
: By default, ESXi 5.5 starts with a 60-day trial of all Enterprise Plus features. After 60 days, you must apply a key or the VMs will no longer power on. How to Apply a License Key You can apply your license key through the vSphere Client (the legacy Windows application required for version 5.5): Connect to your ESXi host using the vSphere Client Select the host in the inventory on the left. Configuration Under the "Software" section, click Licensed Features in the top right corner. Assign a new license key to this host and enter your 25-character key. Important Considerations for Version 5.5 license key vmware esxi 5.5
As of 2024, VMware (now owned by Broadcom) has ceased issuing new free license keys for older products like ESXi 5.5. Furthermore, , meaning there are no security updates, patches, or technical support available. It should not be used in production environments. How to Apply a License Key in ESXi 5.5 VMware offers several types of licenses for ESXi 5
Understanding and Using a License Key for VMware ESXi 5.5 VMware ESXi 5.5 is a foundational, albeit legacy, hypervisor in the evolution of virtualization. While it is no longer officially supported by Broadcom/VMware, many developers, students, and home-lab enthusiasts still utilize it for testing and learning. Furthermore, , meaning there are no security updates,
Gone. Deactivated. Probably flagged in some distant mothership server when the company’s maintenance contract lapsed three years ago.
Modern operating systems like Windows Server 2022 or recent Linux distributions are not officially supported or optimized to run on a 5.5 hypervisor.