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.
Key Features of Licensing for VMware ESXi 5.5:
License Key Activation: Once you purchase a license, you'll receive a license key. This key needs to be applied to your VMware environment to unlock the features corresponding to that license.
Compliance and Management: Keeping track of license usage is crucial. VMware provides tools and a web interface to manage and monitor your licenses, ensuring you're compliant.
VMware ESXi 5.5 is a legacy bare-metal hypervisor that is now largely obsolete and no longer officially supported
. While it was once popular for its robust "free" version, changes in VMware's licensing—especially following the Broadcom acquisition—have made obtaining official keys for such old versions nearly impossible. Licensing Overview for ESXi 5.5 Evaluation Mode : By default, ESXi 5.5 runs in a 60-day full-featured evaluation mode
. If a license key is not applied within this window, the hypervisor stops functioning, and you lose the ability to manage or power on virtual machines. Free Hypervisor License
: VMware previously offered a free "vSphere Hypervisor" license that allowed for unlimited physical CPUs and RAM (a major upgrade from the 32GB limit in ESXi 5.0). This license is permanent and never expires once applied. Broadcom Transition
: As of 2024, Broadcom has discontinued the issuance of free ESXi license keys. Users looking for keys today often rely on legacy account histories or third-party repositories, though the latter may violate EULAs. Spiceworks Community Key Features and Limitations
FREE or TRIAL? VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.5 - Virtualization
This review explores the legacy of VMware ESXi 5.5, an pivotal release in the virtualization world that fundamentally changed how users approached free-tier licensing. While this version is now largely obsolete and no longer officially supported, it remains a case study in high-value hypervisor features and the start of a major shift in enterprise licensing. The Big Shift: Removing the 32GB RAM Limit
The most significant "feature" of the ESXi 5.5 license was the removal of the 32GB physical RAM limit for the free version. Prior to this 2013 release, free-tier users were capped at 32GB, which severely limited home labs and small business servers.
Impact: By lifting this restriction, ESXi 5.5 allowed users to leverage affordable, high-memory hardware without paying for a Standard or Enterprise license.
Unlimited Physical CPUs: The free license worked for single-CPU and multi-CPU hosts, allowing for significant vertical scaling on a single machine. Features and Restrictions
While the RAM limit vanished, the ESXi 5.5 free license maintained several key constraints to encourage enterprise upgrades:
Management Limitations: It could not be managed by vCenter Server. Without vCenter, premium features like vMotion and High Availability (HA) remained locked. license key vmware esxi 5.5
API Write-Access: The free license provides "read-only" API access, meaning many third-party backup tools (like Veeam) could not perform automated backups without a paid version.
Virtual SMP: A hard limit of 8-way virtual SMP (8 vCPUs per VM) was enforced. Performance and Usability vSphere 5.5 Free version licensing - physical CPU's limit
VMware ESXi 5.5 reached its End of General Support on September 19, 2018, and its Technical Guidance Phase
concluded on September 19, 2020. Because it is a legacy, unsupported version, obtaining new license keys directly from the official Broadcom (formerly VMware) portal is no longer possible through standard modern channels. Obtaining and Managing License Keys
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: VMware ESXi is a robust virtualization platform that
Conclusion
The "license key VMware ESXi 5.5" topic revolves around understanding the licensing model of VMware's ESXi 5.5, a key component of vSphere 5.5. Licensing determines the features and scalability of your virtualization environment. Choosing the right license level and understanding how to manage and apply your license key are crucial steps in deploying and maintaining a VMware ESXi 5.5 environment.
VMware ESXi 5.5 License Keys: Status and Solutions in 2026 VMware ESXi 5.5 is an obsolete version that reached its end of general support on September 19, 2018, and end of technical guidance on September 19, 2020. As of 2026, obtaining new or free license keys for this version is not officially supported by Broadcom. explorevm.com
Here is an overview of how to manage, apply, and look for license keys for this legacy system. Can You Still Get a Free 5.5 License Key?
Officially, no. Broadcom has discontinued free ESXi license keys for old versions, and they have transitioned entirely to a subscription-based model, making it impossible to generate new perpetual keys for 5.5. Sangfor Technologies
However, if you have a legacy account that previously held a license for 5.5, it may still be viewable within your Broadcom/VMware Customer Connect portal Applying an Existing License Key
If you already possess a license key, you can apply it to an ESXi 5.5 host using one of these methods: vSphere Client (Direct Connection): Log in to the host via vSphere Client Navigate to the Configuration Licensed Features in the top right corner.
Select "Assign a new license key to this host" and enter the key. Direct Console UI (DCUI): Log into the physical console. View Support Information to view the current license serial number. , log in, and use Troubleshooting Options to assign a new license key via command line if needed. Managing Old License Keys
VMware ESXi 5.5, while a legacy hypervisor, remains a standard for managing virtual machines on older hardware. Licensing this version is essential to move beyond the 60-day evaluation period. Licensing Options for ESXi 5.5 Free Hypervisor License
: VMware previously offered a "Free" version of ESXi 5.5 with no physical RAM limits (a major upgrade from the 32GB limit in version 5.0). However, following Broadcom's acquisition of VMware, these free keys are no longer officially issued. Paid vSphere Licenses
: Standard, Enterprise, or Enterprise Plus keys unlock advanced features like vMotion, High Availability, and central management via vCenter. Evaluation Mode
: By default, ESXi 5.5 starts with a 60-day trial of all Enterprise Plus features. After 60 days, you must apply a key or the VMs will no longer power on. How to Apply a License Key You can apply your license key through the vSphere Client (the legacy Windows application required for version 5.5): Connect to your ESXi host using the vSphere Client Select the host in the inventory on the left. Configuration Under the "Software" section, click Licensed Features in the top right corner. Assign a new license key to this host and enter your 25-character key. Important Considerations for Version 5.5
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. License Key Activation: Once you purchase a license,
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:
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
I understand you're looking for a guide on VMware ESXi 5.5 license keys. However, I need to provide some important context first:
Important Notice:
VMware ESXi 5.5 reached End of General Support on September 19, 2018, and End of Technical Guidance on September 19, 2020. Using it today poses significant security risks. VMware no longer provides patches or security updates.