Vmware Esxi 80 Download Iso Google Drive Install Hot! May 2026

Disclaimer: VMware ESXi is proprietary software owned by Broadcom. Downloading ISO files from unofficial third-party sources (such as personal Google Drive links) poses significant security risks, including potential malware or corrupted installations. Furthermore, Broadcom has restricted downloads to active license holders with a valid Broadcom Support Portal account. The following feature article discusses the installation process and the landscape of acquiring the software.

6. Post-install setup

From another machine on the same network, open a browser and go to the ESXi host IP (https://).
Log in with root and the password you set.
Install license key (if you have one) via Host → Manage → Licensing.
Configure networking, NTP, and DNS.
Create datastores (local or remote iSCSI/NFS) and start creating VMs.
Consider installing VMware Tools (Guest OS-specific) inside each VM.

5. Post-Installation Setup

Once the server reboots, you will see the ESXi management console (Direct Console User Interface - DCUI). vmware esxi 80 download iso google drive install

Configure Network:
- Press F2 to log in (username: root, password: the one you set during install).
- Navigate to Configure Management Network > IPv4 Configuration.
- Set a static IP address for your ESXi host.
- Press Esc and press Y to save changes.
Access the Web Interface:
- On a computer on the same network, open a web browser.
- Navigate to https://<YOUR_ESXI_IP_ADDRESS>.
- You will see a warning about the connection not being private (because the certificate is self-signed). Click Advanced and proceed.
Login:
- Enter root and your password.
- You now have access to the ESXi Host Client, where you can create Virtual Machines, upload ISOs, and manage storage.

Step 1: Boot from the Installation Media

Insert the USB drive into the target server.
Power on the server and press the boot-menu key (F11 for Dell, F9 for HPE, F12 for custom builds).
Select your USB drive as the boot device.

The "Google Drive" Phenomenon and Security Risks

Searching for "VMware ESXi 8.0 download ISO Google Drive" is a common workaround attempt by users who lack a support contract. While convenient on the surface, this method carries severe risks: Disclaimer: VMware ESXi is proprietary software owned by

Integrity Violations: ISO files shared on public cloud drives cannot be verified. A malicious actor could inject rootkits or backdoors into the hypervisor kernel. Since ESXi is the base layer of your infrastructure, a compromised host means compromised everything.
Stability Issues: Unofficial ISOs may be outdated, missing critical drivers (specifically network interface cards), or modified to bypass license checks, leading to system instability.
No Support: If a production host fails, Broadcom support will not assist with an ISO sourced from a Google Drive link.

The Verdict: Always obtain the ISO directly from the Broadcom Support Portal. If you do not have a license, you cannot legally use the software in production. From another machine on the same network, open

Phase 2: Preparing the Installation Media

Once the ISO is on your local machine:

Create bootable USB – Use Rufus (Windows) or BalenaEtcher (Cross-platform). Select the ISO, target USB (≥4GB), and write in DD mode if prompted.
Alternative: Mount ISO via iDRAC/iLO – For remote servers, mount the Google Drive-downloaded ISO directly through the out-of-band management interface.

Steps to Download:

Obtain a trusted link – Search for “VMware ESXi 8.0 ISO Google Drive” from known virtualization forums (e.g., r/vmware, ServeTheHome).
Download the file – Click the Google Drive link. If the file exceeds the scan limit, click “Download anyway.” The file is typically named VMware-VMvisor-Installer-8.0.0-xxxxxx.x86_64.iso.
Verify integrity – Use a tool like CertUtil -hashfile <filename> SHA256 (Windows) or shasum -a 256 <filename> (Linux) to match the hash with VMware’s official release notes.

Phase 5: Post-Installation Management (vSphere Client)

ESXi 8.0 no longer supports the legacy vSphere Client (C#); you must use the HTML5 Web Client.

Access Web UI – Open a browser and navigate to https://<ESXi_IP>.
Accept Self-Signed Certificate – Proceed to the warning.
Login – Use root and the password set during installation.
Licensing – Navigate to Manage → Licensing → Assign License. For homelab, use the free Hypervisor license from VMware (register to get a key). For evaluation, it runs for 60 days.
Enable VM Startup/Shutdown – Configure Manage → System → Autostart for VMs.
Create First VM – Click Create / Register VM → Create new virtual machine → Select OS, allocate vCPUs, RAM, and storage.