Here's what you should do instead, depending on your needs:
Your (learning VMware, hosting a home server, or business testing)
Broadcom provides a for VMware vSphere components, including ESXi and vCenter Server. vmware esxi 9 license key github free
Broadcom officially discontinued the free version of VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi). This free tier previously allowed users to run a limited version of the hypervisor indefinitely without a paid license. The Risks of Using "Free GitHub" License Keys
Even if an unauthorized key bypassed activation, you still wouldn't receive official security updates, bug fixes, or support. Running production workloads on unpatched hypervisors is a major security risk. Here's what you should do instead, depending on
Using cracked software violates intellectual property laws and constitutes software piracy. VMware's official license agreement explicitly prohibits reverse engineering and unauthorized modification. Organizations caught using unlicensed or cracked ESXi software can face massive fines and legal action from Broadcom. Moreover, real criminal cases exist: a former VMware employee was sentenced to four years for selling pirated VMware software, netting over 2.8 million yuan in profit.
GitHub hosts millions of open-source projects, but it also contains public text repositories containing copied enterprise license keys for virtualization platforms. The Risks of Using "Free GitHub" License Keys
This is the only free version of VMware's hypervisor available today. It's perfect for a home lab, learning, or testing a non-production application.
If you are looking for low-cost ways to run ESXi for learning: VMUG Advantage : For a yearly subscription fee, the VMUG Advantage program
As virtualization technology evolves, the hunt for a solution has become a common topic in IT forums and repositories. With Broadcom's recent restructuring of VMware's product portfolio, finding legitimate "free" licensing, especially for newer versions, requires understanding the changing landscape.