VMware vSphere 8 Hypervisor (ESXi)

VMware vSphere 8 Hypervisor (ESXi) – Free & Licensable

The powerful virtualization platform for enterprises and data centers

VMware vSphere 8 Hypervisor (ESXi) is a state-of-the-art, bare-metal hypervisor operating system for server virtualization. ESXi is the foundation of the vSphere platform and enables the efficient creation and management of virtual machines (VMs) with minimal overhead. It provides a secure, stable, and scalable environment for virtualization solutions in enterprises, data centers, and cloud environments.

This edition is available as a free version with limited features, but can be upgraded with a licensed version to access advanced features such as vCenter integration, vMotion, High Availability (HA), and more.

Main features:

✅ Bare-metal hypervisor – Installed directly on the server hardware without the need for an operating system.
✅ High-performance virtualization – Supports a variety of operating systems as virtual machines (Windows, Linux, BSD).
✅ Centralized management with vCenter Server (in the licensed version) – Optimized control of multiple ESXi hosts.
✅ Maximum security & stability – Minimized attack vector through lean hypervisor design.
✅ Extensible architecture – Supports vSAN, NSX and other VMware solutions.
✅ Support for modern hardware – Optimized for current x86 server architectures.
✅ Live Migration (vMotion) – Moves running virtual machines between hosts (licensed only).
✅ High availability & resource balancing – Automatic load balancing and failover security (license only).
✅ Snapshots & Cloning of VMs – Enables easy backup and rollback of virtual machines.
✅ REST API & PowerCLI – Automation and scripting of administrative tasks.

Editions & License Options:

💡 Free version:
✔ Ideal for smaller test environments or non-mission-critical workloads
✔ No vCenter connection possible
✔ Limitation to a single host instance
✔ No support for advanced vSphere features such as vMotion, HA, DRS

🔑 Licensed version (via vSphere Essentials, Standard, Enterprise Plus):
✔ Supports vCenter Server for centralized management
✔ Includes vMotion, High Availability (HA) and Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS)
✔ Enables live migrations between hosts
✔ Integrates vSAN and NSX for advanced storage and networking solutions
✔ Scalable for large IT infrastructures and data centers

Advantages:

✅ Reduced hardware and energy costs – Consolidate multiple servers onto fewer physical machines.
✅ Increased IT flexibility – Rapidly deploy and scale virtual machines.
✅ Secure & reliable virtualization – Integrated security mechanisms and enterprise-level stability.
✅ Easy deployment and management – ​​Intuitive web interface and automation options via APIs and scripts.
✅ Cost-effective virtualization – Free ESXi version for small environments or with a license for enterprise features.

System requirements:

✅ Supported operating systems for VMs:

• Windows Server 2022 / 2019 / 2016
• Linux distributions (Ubuntu, CentOS, Red Hat, SUSE, Debian)
• FreeBSD, Solaris and other supported x86 operating systems

✅ Hardware requirements:

• Processor: 64-bit x86 processor with Intel VT-x or AMD-V support
• Memory: At least 8 GB RAM (recommended: 32 GB or more)
• Disk space: At least 10 GB of free space per host
• Network: Gigabit network connection for optimal performance

✅ Supported hardware:

• Servers from Dell, HPE, Lenovo, Cisco, Fujitsu, Supermicro (check the VMware HCL – Hardware Compatibility List)
• Standard RAID controllers and SSD/NVMe storage solutions

License details & availability:

✔ Free version of VMware ESXi can be downloaded and used directly from VMware.
✔ Advanced features require a paid license (e.g. vSphere Essentials, Standard, Enterprise Plus).
✔ Licenses can be purchased through VMware or certified partners.

Scope of delivery:

✅ VMware vSphere 8 Hypervisor (ESXi) – Download link
✅ Optional paid license for extended functionality
✅ Digital delivery & license key via email within 1-2 hours (for paid license)

VMware vSphere 8 Hypervisor (ESXi) – The ideal solution for virtualization in enterprises, data centers, and cloud environments! ☁️🖥️🔧