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While VMware ESXi 5.5 reached its End of General Support on September 19, 2018, it remains a common legacy hypervisor for older hardware and specialized laboratory environments. Managing its license keys effectively is critical to unlocking the full performance of your physical hardware and maintaining service continuity. Core Licensing Editions for ESXi 5.5
Licenses for vSphere 5.5 are typically tied to the number of physical CPUs (sockets) on a host. Keys are 25-character alphanumeric codes that activate specific feature sets: Free (vSphere Hypervisor):
Allows basic virtualization on a single host with unlimited physical RAM and up to 8-way virtual SMP (8 vCPUs per VM). It lacks centralized management via vCenter. Entry-level commercial tier offering features like High Availability (HA) Enterprise Plus:
The most advanced tier, providing high-end capabilities such as Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS) Storage vMotion Distributed Switch (vDS) Key Activation & Management Once a host is installed, it operates in a 60-day evaluation mode
with all features enabled. You must assign a license key before this window expires to prevent virtual machines from being unable to power on. Life after vSphere 5.5 End of General Support - Veeam
VMware ESXi 5.5 reached End of General Support on September 19, 2018, and End of Technical Guidance on September 19, 2020. Because this version is legacy software, obtaining a legitimate license key from official Broadcom/VMware channels is no longer possible for new users. 1. Current Licensing Status
Availability: Broadcom has discontinued the issuance of free ESXi license keys.
Perpetual Keys: Existing perpetual license keys for ESXi 5.5 still function as they do not have an expiration date, but they are no longer sold.
Evaluation Mode: New installations default to a 60-day evaluation period with full features. After 60 days, virtual machines (VMs) will continue to run but cannot be powered on if shut down until a valid key is applied. 2. How to Retrieve Existing Keys
If you previously owned a license for version 5.5, you can still find it by following these steps:
Log into the Broadcom Support Portal (which replaced the old MyVMware portal). Navigate to the Accounts or My Entitlements section.
Select Find Serial Numbers from the dropdown menus to view historical keys associated with your account. 3. Applying a License Key to ESXi 5.5
Once you have a 25-digit key, you can activate it through the vSphere Client (Windows-based) or vCenter:
The landscape for VMware ESXi 5.5 licensing has shifted dramatically since its release. While once widely available through official VMware portals, the acquisition of VMware by Broadcom has fundamentally changed how legacy licenses and "Free Edition" keys are handled. Current State of ESXi 5.5 Licensing
VMware ESXi 5.5 is a legacy product that reached its End of General Support (EOGS) years ago. Because of its age, Broadcom has discontinued the issuance of new "free" license keys for this version.
Broadcom Portal Changes: Recent updates to the Broadcom Support Portal mean that standard registration for ESXi 5.5 is no longer an option for new users. license key vmware esxi 5.5
Evaluation Mode: By default, an installation of ESXi 5.5 starts in a 60-day evaluation mode with all features unlocked. After this period, virtual machines cannot be powered on or managed unless a valid license is applied. How to Assign a License Key
If you have an existing key, the process for applying it to your ESXi 5.5 host is straightforward:
Open the vSphere Client: Connect directly to your ESXi host.
Navigate to Licensing: Go to the Configuration tab, then select Licensed Features under the Software section.
Edit License: Click Edit in the top right corner and choose Assign a new license key to this host.
Enter Key: Input your 25-character alphanumeric key and click OK. Common Licensing Types for 5.5 License Tier Primary Use Case Free Hypervisor Home labs / Single hosts No vCenter support, limited physical CPUs, no vMotion. Essentials / Essentials Plus Small businesses
Includes vCenter Server and features like vMotion and High Availability. Enterprise Plus Large-scale production
Full suite of features including Distributed Switch and Storage DRS. Important Considerations
Hardware Compatibility: 5.5 is often used for older hardware that cannot run newer versions like ESXi 7.0 or 8.0. However, it does not receive critical security patches.
EULA Compliance: Free license keys are typically tied to a specific account and are non-transferable according to VMware's End User Licensing Agreement (EULA).
Upgrades and Downgrades: If you own a license for a newer version (e.g., vSphere 6.0), you may be able to downgrade the key in your Broadcom/VMware portal to generate a valid 5.5 key for your lab. vSphere 5.5 Free version licensing - physical CPU's limit
Helpful Post: Obtaining a License Key for VMware ESXi 5.5
Introduction
VMware ESXi 5.5 is a popular virtualization platform used by many organizations to manage their virtual infrastructure. However, to unlock its full potential, you need a valid license key. In this post, we'll guide you through the process of obtaining a license key for VMware ESXi 5.5.
Why do you need a license key?
A license key is required to enable advanced features and support for VMware ESXi 5.5. Without a valid license, you'll be limited to the free version, which has some restrictions. By obtaining a license key, you'll be able to:
How to obtain a license key
There are a few ways to obtain a license key for VMware ESXi 5.5:
Where to find the license key
Once you've obtained a license key, you'll need to enter it into the VMware ESXi 5.5 interface. Here's where to find the license key:
Troubleshooting tips
If you're having trouble with your license key, here are some troubleshooting tips:
Conclusion
If you are looking for a license key for VMware ESXi 5.5, it is important to note that this version is considered legacy software and has reached its end-of-life status. VMware (now owned by Broadcom) no longer officially provides or supports new license keys for this version. Current Status of ESXi 5.5
End of General Support: Support for ESXi 5.5 officially ended on September 19, 2018.
End of Technical Guidance: The final phase of self-help support ended on September 19, 2020.
Security Risks: Because it no longer receives security patches or bug fixes, running ESXi 5.5 in a production environment is highly discouraged as it contains unpatched vulnerabilities. How to Manage Licensing for Legacy Systems
Retrieve Existing Keys: If you previously owned a license, you can still find your historical keys by logging into the Broadcom Support Portal (which replaced the old "My VMware" portal).
Downgrading Newer Keys: In some cases, if you have a valid perpetual license for a newer version (like vSphere 6.x), the licensing portal may allow you to "downgrade" that key to a 5.x version for legacy hardware compatibility.
Free Version Availability: Broadcom has discontinued the "Free ESXi" (Hypervisor) edition. As of 2024, VMware products have transitioned entirely to a subscription-based model, and free standalone keys are no longer issued. VMware ESXi - endoflife.date While VMware ESXi 5
VMware ESXi is a robust virtualization platform that enables you to create and manage virtual machines. ESXi 5.5 is a specific version of the ESXi hypervisor, which was released as part of VMware's vSphere 5.5 suite. This version brought several enhancements over its predecessors, including improved performance, scalability, and management capabilities.
VMware ESXi 5.5, like other versions of ESXi, requires a license to operate. The licensing model for VMware products, including ESXi, typically involves purchasing a license key that corresponds to the specific features and the number of processors (CPUs) you plan to use.
If you need a step‑by‑step installation guide for ESXi 5.5 without licensing advice (e.g., evaluation mode), let me know and I can provide that separately.
VMware ESXi 5.5 is a legacy product that reached its End of General Support (EOGS) in September 2018 and End of Technical Guidance in 2020. 🛡️ Licensing and Availability
Free Version: VMware originally offered a free version of ESXi 5.5, but it required a unique key obtained through a Broadcom/VMware account.
Broadcom Transition: Since Broadcom's acquisition of VMware, the "Free ESXi" hypervisor has been discontinued.
Key Generation: It is no longer possible to register for new free license keys for version 5.5 through official channels. ⚠️ Critical Risks for ESXi 5.5
Security: No security patches have been released for years. It is highly vulnerable to modern ransomware.
Hardware: Does not support modern NVMe drives, recent CPU architectures, or UEFI enhancements.
Compatibility: Cannot run modern versions of Windows Server (2022+) or recent Linux distributions effectively. 📋 Current Options Recommendation Evaluation Mode Install without a key for a 60-day trial. Use only for temporary data recovery. Upgrade Move to ESXi 7.0 or 8.0 (if hardware allows). Highly Recommended for stability. Alternatives Switch to Proxmox, XCP-ng, or Hyper-V. Best for home labs wanting "free" features. 🔍 How to Find an Existing Key
If you are trying to recover a key from an existing installation:
vSphere Client: Log in -> Configuration tab -> Software -> Licensed Features.
PowerCLI: Use the command Get-VMHost | Select Name, LicenseKey. ESXi Shell: Run vim-cmd vimsvc/license/show. To help you better, could you tell me:
Are you trying to recover a lost key or license a new install? Is this for a home lab or a business environment?
What is the server hardware you are using (e.g., Dell R710, HP Gen8)? How to obtain a license key There are
I can guide you on how to migrate your VMs to a more modern, secure platform if needed.