Once you have obtained a key, you can activate your ESXi 5.5 host using the following steps: Broadcom support portal Log in to your vSphere Client Select the from the inventory. Configuration (or Configure) tab. (or System) section, select Licensed Features (or Assign License) and enter the 25-character license key. Managing licenses on ESXi hosts using the vSphere Client
Many repositories (e.g., sabbirimon/vmware-keys ) list keys that were originally designated for free evaluation, such as HF6E2-AU3DQ-488E9-E08N0-CUAQ0 or 4U6R0-DZH04-08010-D22EM-2UK64 .
Connect-VIServer -Server vcenter.example.com -User svc-account -Password (Get-SecretFromVault) Get-VMHost | Select Name,@n='License';e=$_.ExtensionData.Config.License esxi 5.5 license key github
The only plausible non-malicious reason for seeking an ESXi 5.5 key in 2026 is for a retrocomputing home lab. In this scenario, you would be safe using the legitimate free key from VMware. However, for anyone else, . The EOL date for General Support of vSphere 5.5 was September 19, 2018 — over eight years ago. Any CVE discovered since then remains unpatched, threatening your entire network.
Disclaimer: This article does not provide, link to, or encourage the use of pirated software or invalid license keys. If you're interested, I can also: Tell you how to upgrade from ESXi 5.5 to a newer version. Once you have obtained a key, you can activate your ESXi 5
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.5 reached its on September 19, 2018, and its End of Technical Guidance (EOTG) on September 19, 2020. Using public repositories to find crack keys for deprecated infrastructure software exposes networks to malware, ransomware, and compliance violations. The Risks of GitHub License Keys 1. Security Vulnerabilities
Running legacy software like VMware ESXi 5.5 often leads users to search GitHub for "leaked" or community-shared license keys to keep home labs alive. However, relying on these keys is generally a high-risk, short-term fix for a version of software that is long past its prime. The Legal and Security Reality Managing licenses on ESXi hosts using the vSphere
Using a license key from GitHub or other online platforms poses significant risks, including:
A search on GitHub for "ESXi 5.5 license key" or similar terms yields several repositories containing license keys, cracks, or patches. These repositories often claim to provide free or cheap licenses, but they pose significant risks to users.
If you have a newer license (e.g., vSphere 6 or 7), you can often downgrade it to a 5.x key in the Broadcom/VMware Customer Connect portal.
For years, VMware offered a version of ESXi. Users could register on the Broadcom/VMware portal to receive a permanent license key for non-commercial use. However, after Broadcom's acquisition of VMware, the free version was officially discontinued in early 2024, leaving many legacy users in a bind. The GitHub Connection