For homelabs, the newer free versions are still available and far more secure. While your hardware may not support it, if it does, always choose the latest version.
For legacy deployments, use the vCenter Server Appliance 6.0 over the Windows version, as it has fewer dependencies. vmware vsphere 6.0 download
which must be burned to a CD/DVD or written to a bootable USB drive. License Keys For homelabs, the newer free versions are still
| Component | File Name Example | Purpose | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | VMware-VMvisor-Installer-6.0.0- Update3- XXXXXXXX.x86_64.iso | The base hypervisor to install on physical servers. | | vCenter Server 6.0 | VMware-vCenter-Server-6.0.0- XXXXXXX.exe (Windows) or OVA for appliance | Centralized management for multiple ESXi hosts. | | vSphere Client | VMware-viclient-all-6.0.0.exe | The desktop client (Note: vSphere 6.0 uses both a legacy C# client and a limited Web Client). | which must be burned to a CD/DVD or
If you require a specific build (e.g., for compatibility with a legacy backup agent), search the VMware Knowledge Base for the and then use the "Search" bar in Customer Connect Downloads with that number. For example, build 7967591 is ESXi 6.0 Update 3.