VMware has quietly reinstated its free hypervisor providing, making the ESXi 8.0U3e model obtainable as soon as once more for non-commercial testing and lab environments. The transfer was introduced in a quick point out inside the launch notes for the ESXi 8.0U3e launch, printed by Broadcom, VMware’s dad or mum firm. The documentation refers back to the launch as an ‘entry-level hypervisor,’ obtainable without cost obtain through the Broadcom Help portal.
The free version of VMware ESXi has lengthy been a favourite amongst dwelling lab lovers, IT directors, and virtualization professionals trying to experiment or construct abilities in a non-production setting. Its sudden elimination in February 2024 sparked criticism from the tech neighborhood, as VMware shifted its licensing mannequin towards subscription-based choices and phased out perpetual licenses.
Broadcom has not supplied a public clarification for its choice to reintroduce the free model, nor has it clarified whether or not this transfer marks a long-term technique or a brief concession.
Customers Should Register on Broadcom Help
To entry the brand new model, customers should register with Broadcom’s buyer help system, which provides a slight barrier to entry in comparison with earlier releases.
Whereas the reinstated model could not embrace the complete capabilities of business ESXi choices, its return alerts renewed engagement with the broader consumer base – significantly builders, testers, and IT learners. Nevertheless, after over a 12 months with no free choice, some customers could have already migrated to various platforms, akin to Proxmox or XCP-ng.
VMware’s reintroduction of the free hypervisor could assist restore goodwill and preserve relevance amongst lovers and professionals in search of hands-on expertise with its virtualization stack.
