VMware offers several types of licenses for ESXi 5.5, including:
: The final phase of self-help support ended on September 19, 2020 .
Unlocks advanced features like vMotion, High Availability (HA), and Data Protection. ⚠️ Important Notice for 2026 Users
To obtain a VMware ESXi 5.5 license key, follow these steps:
Earlier free versions were limited to 8 physical cores per host, though some 5.5 versions lifted this, making it more flexible.
If you purchased vSphere 6.0 or 6.5 keys but need to maintain a legacy ESXi 5.5 host for compatibility reasons, you cannot input a vSphere 6.x key directly into an ESXi 5.5 host. You must log into your Broadcom Customer Support Portal, navigate to your license inventory, and use the "Downgrade License" feature to generate a legacy 5.5 compatible key.
Understanding VMware ESXi 5.5 Licensing: A Comprehensive Guide
: Highlight your ESXi host in the left inventory panel.
But the cheap way was the only way.
VMware offers several types of licenses for ESXi 5.5, including:
: The final phase of self-help support ended on September 19, 2020 .
Unlocks advanced features like vMotion, High Availability (HA), and Data Protection. ⚠️ Important Notice for 2026 Users license key vmware esxi 5.5
To obtain a VMware ESXi 5.5 license key, follow these steps:
Earlier free versions were limited to 8 physical cores per host, though some 5.5 versions lifted this, making it more flexible. VMware offers several types of licenses for ESXi 5
If you purchased vSphere 6.0 or 6.5 keys but need to maintain a legacy ESXi 5.5 host for compatibility reasons, you cannot input a vSphere 6.x key directly into an ESXi 5.5 host. You must log into your Broadcom Customer Support Portal, navigate to your license inventory, and use the "Downgrade License" feature to generate a legacy 5.5 compatible key.
Understanding VMware ESXi 5.5 Licensing: A Comprehensive Guide If you purchased vSphere 6
: Highlight your ESXi host in the left inventory panel.
But the cheap way was the only way.