Option A — Bootable USB (recommended):

Once the USB is prepared, follow these steps to install ESXi 8.0 on your server.

Note: ESXi 8.0 heavily utilizes high-endurance storage. Avoid installing on cheap, low-endurance USB drives; use enterprise-grade SSDs, NVMe drives, or robust SATADOMs instead. Press to confirm the drive selection. 4. Keyboard Layout and Root Password

Ventoy allows you to simply copy the ISO file to the USB. Great for storing ESXi 8.0 + Windows + Linux on one drive. vmware esxi 80 download iso google drive install

Optimized memory management for better VM density.

One or more Gigabit or faster Ethernet controllers.

Use the arrow keys to select the target hard drive, SSD, or NVMe drive where you want to install the ESXi OS. Press . Option A — Bootable USB (recommended): Once the

The free version of ESXi 8.0 Update 3e comes with an embedded license key. After installation, your ESXi host will automatically run in free mode indefinitely. You don't need to enter any additional key.

VMware ESXi stands as the industry-leading bare-metal hypervisor, allowing you to install it directly onto your server hardware to run multiple virtual machines (VMs) with unparalleled efficiency. With version 8.0, VMware has introduced significant performance enhancements, security features, and improved management tools, largely centered around the vSphere platform. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about obtaining the VMware ESXi 8.0 ISO, including a detailed discussion about using Google Drive for downloads, and provide a complete, step-by-step installation process.

You cannot install directly from Google Drive. You must burn the ISO to a bootable device. Press to confirm the drive selection

vmware esxi 80 download iso google drive install

Input your desired IP address, Subnet Mask, and Default Gateway. Press .

Click the download icon next to the standard ESXi ISO image (Installer) . Hardware Prerequisites