November 15, 2023.Running business-critical workloads on this version is now considered a significant security risk, as new vulnerabilities are no longer patched by Broadcom. Where to Find the ESXi 6.5 ISO
(free for lab use):
Boot your server from the USB drive. The ESXi installer will load. esxi 6.5 download
Once the download—often a large file that tested slower internet connections—was complete, the "ritual of preparation" began. Admins used tools like Rufus or the StarWind USB creator to burn the ISO onto a flash drive, turning it into a bootable installer. The Installation Ritual November 15, 2023