After months of uncertainty following Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware, the popular vSphere Hypervisor is once again available at no cost—but its future remains uncertain.
In a move welcomed by system administrators, homelab enthusiasts, and IT professionals worldwide, VMware ESXi is officially free again. As confirmed in the release notes for vSphere ESXi 8.0 Update 3e, Broadcom has reintroduced the free version of the vSphere Hypervisor, downloadable from its official support portal after completing a compliance form.
This marks a significant shift in direction following the controversial removal of the free ESXi license earlier in 2024, when Broadcom finalized its acquisition of VMware and began overhauling licensing structures and product access. The decision at the time drew criticism across the IT community, with many fearing the permanent disappearance of a vital tool used for testing, training, and small-scale production deployments.
What’s New in vSphere ESXi 8.0 Update 3e?
Alongside the return of the free license, ESXi 8.0 U3e introduces several enhancements, particularly in hardware compatibility and boot efficiency:
- Support for CDC-NCM (Communication Device Class – Network Control Model) in the ESXi USB driver, improving integration with HPE Gen12 iLO Virtual NIC and tools such as Agentless Management Service (AMS), iLORest, iSUT, Intelligent Provisioning, and DPUs.
- vSphere Quick Boot support has been expanded to include:
- Intel vRAN Baseband Driver
- Intel Platform Monitoring Technology Driver
- Intel Data Center Graphics Driver
- AMD Instinct MI Series Driver
These changes are especially relevant for enterprises and service providers upgrading to next-gen hardware.
A Free ESXi License, Once Again
Historically, the free version of ESXi was a cornerstone of VMware’s appeal to developers, learners, and IT professionals. It allowed the use of the hypervisor on a single host with basic functionality—without features like vMotion or DRS—making it ideal for non-critical environments and training setups.
When Broadcom discontinued this model in early 2024, backlash was immediate. The removal not only impacted educational institutions and labs but also hindered adoption among small businesses.
Now, with vSphere 8.0 U3e, users can once again:
- Download and install ESXi 8 for free here.
- Use it for non-commercial purposes or small-scale testing
- Manage virtual machines via the vSphere Host Client
- Operate without requiring a paid license key (subject to the limitations of the free edition)
To access it, users must register via the Broadcom Support portal.
The download is listed under the “Free Products” section and requires filling out a short compliance form.
But Can the Community Trust Broadcom Long-Term?
Despite the positive news, doubts remain about the long-term availability of free ESXi. Broadcom has already shown a willingness to disrupt VMware’s historical licensing and partner models—eliminating perpetual licenses and shifting heavily toward subscription-based enterprise offerings.
The abrupt removal and now reinstatement of the free hypervisor within the span of a few months raises valid concerns about stability and commitment. Users depending on free ESXi for homelabs, training environments or lightweight use cases may hesitate to rely on it fully, knowing that Broadcom could reverse course again.
As of now, the company has not offered guarantees or roadmaps regarding the continuity of this offering.
Conclusion
The return of free VMware ESXi is a welcome relief for the tech community, restoring access to a powerful tool for experimentation, learning, and lightweight virtualization. However, the uncertainty introduced by Broadcom’s evolving strategy should prompt users to remain cautious, explore alternatives, and maintain backups of existing installations.
For now, VMware’s free hypervisor lives on—but the community will be watching closely.
Source: vSphere ESXi 8.0 U3e Release Notes.
