: You must have a registered account on the Broadcom Support Portal to access downloads.
The interesting takeaway here is that It is a marketing strategy that can be revoked at any moment. If you are building a home lab today, you are navigating a product in transition.
The "ESXi download free" link is more than a file transfer; it is an entry point into the enterprise mindset. It offers you the raw power of the industry standard, stripped of its safety nets and conveniences.
Since Broadcom acquired VMware, the landscape has shifted dramatically. Broadcom has a reputation for aggressive cost-cutting and monetization. The "Free ESXi" binaries have been quietly shuffled into the background of their sprawling customer portal.