Certain legacy virtual appliances or older versions of Citrix/Zimbras require the specific vSphere 5.x kernel.
Finding a is becoming increasingly difficult as the software has reached its End of General Support . While versions like 5.0, 5.1, and 5.5 are technically obsolete, they remain critical for maintaining legacy hardware or specialized home lab environments. Where to Download vSphere Hypervisor 5
As of 2024, Broadcom (the owner of VMware) has significantly changed how legacy software is accessed. Most public "Free Edition" download links have been discontinued. 1. Broadcom Support Portal
If you are unable to source a safe download or need a more secure solution for older hardware, consider these modern alternatives: VMware ESXi - endoflife.date
It is vital to understand that vSphere 5 is . Using it in a production environment poses significant security risks. Release Date End of General Support Technical Guidance Ended ESXi 5.0 August 24, 2016 August 24, 2018 ESXi 5.1 August 2012 August 24, 2016 August 24, 2018 ESXi 5.5 September 2013 September 19, 2018 September 19, 2020 Sources: endoflife.date, Loffler Blog . Why Use vSphere 5 Today?
VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5 Download: A Comprehensive Guide to Legacy ESXi
You must have a registered account and, in most cases, an active entitlement (license) to access versions as old as vSphere 5. Steps: Log in to the Broadcom Support Portal. Navigate to "My Downloads" and select VMware vSphere .
Despite its age, users still search for vSphere 5 for several reasons:
