VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 6.7 is a legacy version of the hypervisor platform that is currently beyond its General Support lifecycle. Lifecycle & Support Status General Support End: October 15, 2022. Technical Guidance End: November 15, 2023.
Current Status: This version is effectively End of Life (EOL). It no longer receives security patches, bug fixes, or official technical support from VMware (now part of Broadcom). Key Features (Historical Context)
When it was current, ESXi 6.7 introduced several significant improvements over version 6.5:
Performance: Provided up to 2X faster performance in vCenter operations per second.
Scalability: Increased maximum limits for VMs and hosts to support larger data center environments.
Security: Enhanced security features such as support for Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 and virtual TPM.
Storage: Better support for high-performance storage like RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access) and Persistent Memory (PMem). Download Considerations
While official downloads for legacy versions are sometimes available through the Broadcom Support Portal for users with active entitlements, downloading version 6.7 is generally discouraged for the following reasons:
Security Risks: No new security updates have been released since 2022, leaving systems vulnerable to modern exploits.
Compatibility: Newer hardware and operating systems may not be supported by the 6.7 kernel or drivers.
Deprecation: Many third-party tools and cloud migration services (like Azure Migrate) have deprecated support for 6.7 or moved to newer versions like 8.0. Recommendation
If you are setting up a new environment, it is highly recommended to use a currently supported version such as vSphere 7.0 or 8.0 to ensure continued security and hardware compatibility. If you tell me your goal, I can help you: Identify the correct version for your specific hardware.
Find official documentation for upgrading from 6.7 to a supported version.
Locate the current download page for the free version of the vSphere Hypervisor.
⚠️ Important Notice on Downloading ESXi 6.7 Direct downloads for VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 6.7 have been moved due to the acquisition of VMware by Broadcom. Additionally, vSphere 6.7 reached End of General Support on October 15, 2022, and Technical Guidance ended on November 15, 2023.
Using this legacy version in a production environment is highly discouraged because it no longer receives standard security patches. If your hardware requires 6.7 for a home lab or specific project, the authorized pathways to acquire it are detailed below. 📥 Official Methods to Download ESXi 6.7 1. Broadcom Support Portal (For Entitled Users)
If you previously purchased a valid license for vSphere 6.7 or have an active support contract that grants you access to legacy downloads, you can find the files directly through Broadcom: Visit the Broadcom Support Portal.
Register or log in with your valid corporate or personal account credentials. Use the account dropdown to select VMware Cloud Foundation. Navigate to My Downloads on the left menu.
Search for vSphere and select the appropriate version archive.
Under the software lists, click on Custom ISOs or search the Solutions tab to find older 6.7 ISO releases. 2. Hardware Vendor Custom ISOs (For Specific Servers) download vmware vsphere hypervisor -esxi- 6.7
If you are running legacy server hardware from major manufacturers like Dell, HP, or Lenovo, they often host customized versions of the ESXi 6.7 installer on their own support portals. These custom images are heavily recommended because they include verified hardware drivers needed to successfully boot and manage the server.
Visit your specific hardware vendor's official support driver page (e.g., the Dell Support Site or HP Support).
Search for your specific server model (such as a PowerEdge R720 or R730).
Look under the "Operating System" filter and select VMware ESXi 6.7. Download the manufacturer's customized .ISO file directly. 🛠️ Quick Installation Guide
Once you have acquired your official .ISO file, follow these steps to deploy it: How to Download VMware ESXI (2021)
To download the VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 6.7, you must now use the Broadcom Support Portal
, as Broadcom recently completed its acquisition of VMware and migrated all software downloads. Step 1: Access the Broadcom Support Portal Navigate to the Broadcom Support Portal . If you do not already have an account, you must by providing your email and personal information. Step 2: Navigate to My Downloads with your registered credentials. From the drop-down menu next to your username, select VMware Cloud Foundation On the left-side menu, click on My Downloads Step 3: Locate vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) Search for or select VMware vSphere from the product list. Within the product categories, find and click on VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi)
Click the arrow at the end of the record to view available versions. Step 4: Download the 6.7 Binaries Use the version filter to select . Note that the latest available build for this branch is 6.7 Update 3w Accept the Broadcom Terms and Conditions
Select the specific ISO image or offline bundle you require and click the Important Support Note Please be aware that General Support for vSphere ESXi 6.7 officially ended on October 15, 2022
. While binaries are still accessible for existing customers, the software no longer receives new security patches or technical support from Broadcom. create a bootable USB installer with the 6.7 ISO once your download finishes?
Downloading VMware vSphere hypervisor (ESXi) Custom ISO images
VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 6.7 is a legacy, enterprise-grade bare-metal hypervisor that allows you to run multiple virtual machines on a single physical server. Please note that
ESXi 6.7 reached its End of General Support (EoGS) on October 15, 2022 , and Technical Guidance ended on November 15, 2023. How to Download
Due to the acquisition of VMware by Broadcom, the download process has moved from the original VMware portal to the Broadcom Support site. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Broadcom Support Portal : Visit the Broadcom Support Portal and register for an account if you don't already have one. Product Selection
: Once logged in, select "VMware Cloud Foundation" from the product dropdown. My Downloads
: Navigate to the "My Downloads" section on the left sidebar to search for ESXi 6.7 binaries. Free Version Note
: Historically, a free version was available with a dedicated license key, but Broadcom announced the End of General Availability for the free "Personal Use" version of ESXi in early 2024. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Review of Key Features Performance
: ESXi 6.7 offered significant speed improvements over its predecessor, 6.5, including 2x faster performance in vCenter operations per second. Scalability
: It supported massive VM sizes (up to 6TB of RAM) and was optimized for high-performance workloads. Management VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 6
: Introduced the HTML5-based vSphere Client, replacing the older Flash-based web client for a more responsive management experience. Compatibility
: It is the last version to support certain older hardware. However, it is not compatible with vCenter 8.0 management. Critical Considerations Security Risks
: Since it is no longer receiving security patches, using 6.7 in a production environment connected to the internet is highly discouraged. Hardware Compatibility : Before installing, verify your hardware against the VMware Compatibility Guide as newer CPUs and NICs may not be supported by 6.7. or would you like recommendations for supported alternatives like ESXi 7.0 or 8.0?
Downloading VMware vSphere hypervisor (ESXi) Custom ISO images
The fluorescent lights of the server room hummed in a frequency that always gave Elias a dull headache behind the eyes. It was 2:00 AM, the witching hour of system administration, and the ticket queue was finally empty.
But Elias wasn't here for the tickets. He was here for "The Beast"—a Dell PowerEdge R740 that sat in Rack 4, shrouded in the dust of neglect. It was legacy hardware, a blank slate, and Elias had a plan.
He sat on the cold raised floor, balancing his laptop on his knees. The screen cast a blue glow over his face as he typed the query into the search bar, a mantra for the modern infrastructure architect: "download vmware vsphere hypervisor -esxi- 6.7".
He hit enter.
This wasn't just a download; it was a ritual. To Elias, version 6.7 represented a sweet spot in history. It was the last of the purebred HTML5 interface era before the chaos of version 7’s licensing changes and the hardware compatibility nightmares of version 8. It was stable. It was reliable. It was the Excalibur of hypervisors.
The search results populated. He bypassed the official Broadcom links—the new owners had turned the download portal into a labyrinth of bureaucracy—and found a mirror he trusted. He clicked the link. The progress bar appeared.
Downloading: VMware-VMvisor-Installer-6.7.0-8169922.x86_64.iso
Elias watched the bar crawl. 10%. 20%. The server room fans roared in the background, a mechanical chorus.
At 50%, his mind drifted. He remembered the infamous "Purple Screen of Death" from the 5.5 days. He remembered the joy of the first successful vMotion—the live migration of a running virtual machine from one host to another without a dropped packet. It was magic, disguised as engineering.
99%... Complete.
Elias plugged in his flash drive. He didn't just drag and drop; he used Rufus, ensuring the partition scheme was GPT. No amateur MBR mistakes tonight. He clicked 'Start', and the ISO was burned onto the USB stick, ready to breathe life into the silicon.
He walked over to the R740. The status lights were a steady, unblinking amber. It was asleep. He slid the USB drive into the port on the front panel and pressed the power button.
The fans screamed, a jet engine taking off in the small room. The iDRAC console on his laptop flickered to life.
VMware ESXi 6.7.0 Installer.
The text was stark, white on a black background. No graphics, no mouse pointers, just the raw reality of the kernel loading. Elias guided the installer through the prompts. Select a disk. Select a keyboard layout. Enter a root password. the witching hour of system administration
He typed the password. It was complex, unbreakable. He pressed F11 to confirm the install.
A yellow progress bar appeared at the bottom of the screen. Installing ESXi...
Elias watched the percentage tick upward. This was the moment of no return. The drive was being formatted, the old data obliterated, replaced by the VMkernel. It was a baptism by fire.
When the bar hit 100%, the screen turned a soothing, familiar shade of yellow-gold.
Installation Complete.
Elias ejected the USB drive and hit Enter to reboot.
The server cycled. The fans quieted to a hum. And then, the glorious text appeared:
DCUI (Direct Console User Interface)
The IP address blinked at the top of the screen: 192.168.1.50. The status was: Healthy.
Elias smiled. He pulled his laptop close, opened a browser, and typed the IP into the address bar. The security certificate warning popped up—he clicked 'Advanced' and proceeded. He didn't care about the certificate; he cared about the interface.
The login screen loaded. The HTML5 interface was clean, responsive, and modern.
He logged in as root.
The dashboard opened. CPU: 0% usage. Memory: 0% usage. Storage: 500GB free. It was a tabula rasa. A digital empty lot waiting for a skyscraper.
Elias sat back against the cold rack. He pulled a bottle of lukewarm water from his bag and took a sip. Outside, the world was sleeping, unaware that in this small, chilled room, a kingdom had just been built. He right-clicked on the host and selected "New Virtual Machine."
The story was just beginning.
Important Note upfront: VMware ESXi 6.7 reached its End of General Support on October 15, 2022 (Technical Guidance ended October 15, 2024). It is considered a legacy version. While this guide helps you locate it for lab, testing, or air-gapped legacy hardware, do not use this for new production deployments. For new installs, use ESXi 8.0 or 7.0.
During the end of its lifecycle, VMware released several updates. The most common are:
| Version | Build Number | Release Date | Key Features / Fixes | |---------|-------------|--------------|----------------------| | ESXi 6.7.0 GA | 8169922 | April 2018 | Initial release | | ESXi 6.7 Update 1 | 10302673 | October 2018 | HTML5 Host Client improvements | | ESXi 6.7 Update 2 | 13006603 | April 2019 | vSAN performance, security fixes | | ESXi 6.7 Update 3 | 17499825 | Aug 2020 | Final general update – most stable | | ESXi 6.7 Update 3e (patched) | 17700523 | Oct 2020 | MDS/TAA speculative execution fixes |
Recommendation: Always download the latest patch available under 6.7 (Update 3 or 3e). Build 17499825 is the most commonly used and thoroughly tested.
Broadcom occasionally hides older versions behind "Partner" login walls. If you cannot see 6.7: