The Search for VMware ESXi 9.0 License Keys on GitHub: Reality vs. Risk
: Standard ESXi installations typically come with a 60-day full-feature trial . Once this expires, VMs will stay powered on but cannot be restarted or managed until a key is applied. How to Apply a License Key
Many people reinstall ESXi every 60 days for learning. Not recommended for persistent labs, but fine for testing.
Broadcom discontinued the free version of the hypervisor with the 9.0 release.
: If you're looking for alternatives to VMware ESXi, there are open-source projects on GitHub and elsewhere that offer virtualization solutions. For example, projects like oVirt (from Red Hat) or Proxmox VE provide virtualization platforms under open-source licenses.
For those looking to use VMware in a lab environment without a corporate budget:
Visit the official Broadcom support portal or /r/vmware on Reddit. For home lab questions, the VMUG community is exceptionally welcoming. Happy virtualizing!