Despite reaching its End of Life (EOL), VMware ESXi 5.5 remains a topic of interest for many system administrators running legacy hardware or maintaining specific legacy environments. Whether you are performing a re-installation of an older infrastructure or studying for legacy certifications, finding the correct installation media can be a challenge.
In this post, we cover where to find the ISO, the critical status of the 5.5 release, and what you need to know before installing it.
Contrary to popular belief, VMware still provides legacy downloads—but only to registered users with valid entitlements. vmware esxi 5.5 iso download
Because the software is EOL, the download links are no longer prominently featured on the main VMware download page. You must have an active VMware Customer Connect account to access the legacy download section.
If you lack a valid VMware license, here are legitimate ways to obtain the ESXi 5.5 ISO. How to Download VMware ESXi 5
The short answer: Only if you have no other choice.
For legacy hardware testing, vintage lab environments, or proprietary appliances, the ESXi 5.5 ISO remains a necessary evil. But for any production or internet-facing role, upgrade to vSphere 6.7 (minimally) or 7.0/8.0. The security and stability gains are immeasurable. Linux/macOS: sha256sum VMware-VMvisor-Installer-5
Use these commands (example for build 1331820 – find actual hashes on VMware KB 2096141):
Windows (PowerShell):
Get-FileHash -Algorithm SHA256 .\VMware-VMvisor-Installer-5.5.0-1331820.x86_64.iso
Linux/macOS:
sha256sum VMware-VMvisor-Installer-5.5.0-1331820.x86_64.iso
If the hash doesn’t match a known official source, destroy the ISO immediately.