VMWare's VSphere ESXi is available for free from VMWare.com. When clients order a server with ESXi, it is provisioned in evaluation mode for 60 days with the paid tier of ESXi. If no license key is installed prior to the end of the evaluation period, the VM's will be shut down and will not be able to be turned back on until a license is applied.
Anyone can obtain a license key for ESXi by simply doing the following:
- For ESXi 6.X navigate to https://my.vmware.com/en/web/vmware/evalcenter?p=free-esxi6 | For ESXi 7.X navigate to https://my.vmware.com/en/web/vmware/evalcenter?p=free-esxi7
- Sign in make an account on the right hand side
- Once registered and signed in, select the appropriate version and you will see a download link and key as seen below
- Log in to your ESXi server and click Host - Manage - Licensing.
- Click the gear and select "Assign License".
- Paste the 25-digit key and select "Save."
Your ESXi server is now licensed.