VMware ESXi 8.0 Update 3e Is Now Free — Here’s What’s New

VMware has announced that ESXi 8.0 Update 3e, the latest version of its industry-leading hypervisor, is now available for download at no cost.

Released on April 10, 2025, this update is packed with enhancements, critical fixes, and new features, solidifying VMware’s dominance in the virtualization space.

Free Access to ESXi 8.0

Traditionally a component of VMware’s broader vSphere suite, which requires a license, the decision to make ESXi 8.0 Update 3e free aligns with the company’s strategy to increase accessibility and adoption among users.

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Broadcom, the parent company of VMware, has made the free version available for download directly from its support portal.

This move ensures that even smaller organizations and individual users can leverage enterprise-grade virtualization technology without financial constraints.

Key Features in ESXi 8.0 Update 3e

The update introduces several notable features aimed at improving performance, compatibility, and efficiency for both new and existing VMware users:

1. Enhanced USB Driver Support:
   • The ESXi USB driver now supports the Communication Device Class Network Control Model (CDC-NCM). This addition enables compatibility with HPE Gen12 iLO Virtual NICs and enhances interoperability with management tools like HPE Agentless Management and Integrated Smart Update Tools.
2. Expanded vSphere Quick Boot Support:
   • Quick Boot functionality, which significantly reduces downtime during updates, now supports additional drivers, including:
     • Intel vRAN Baseband Driver
     • Intel Data Center Graphics Driver
     • AMD Instinct MI Series Driver
   • This ensures quicker reboots and improved system efficiency during update cycles.
3. Bug Fixes and Stability Improvements:
   • Over 120 critical issues have been resolved to enhance system stability and performance. Fixes address a wide range of issues, such as:
     • Memory leaks during prolonged operations.
     • Improved vSphere Virtual Volumes (vVols) handling to avoid VM migration and access failures.
     • Resolutions for issues causing ESXi hosts to fail with purple diagnostic screens.
4. Improved Networking and Storage Handling:
   • Networking enhancements ensure better load balancing under the Route Based on Physical NIC Load policy.
   • Storage-related upgrades improve handling of NVMe controllers, vSAN clusters, and disk resync operations.
5. Support for Next-Gen Hardware:
   • This release is optimized for hosting environments using the latest CPUs, including Intel and AMD EPYC processors, with enhanced support for multi-segment PCIe devices. This makes ESXi 8.0 Update 3e suitable for modern data centers leveraging advanced hardware.

Critical Updates in Security

In addition to fixing bugs, the update includes security enhancements targeting vulnerabilities in log management, virtual machine migrations, and Active Directory domain integration.

These updates ensure a more robust defense against evolving cyber threats.

Making ESXi 8.0 free is a significant development for VMware, particularly as competitors increasingly target the smaller-business and entry-level user segments.

This gesture fosters goodwill and gives IT professionals, students, and startups access to enterprise-grade virtualization tools without initial investment.

How to Download

The update is available for download as an ISO or offline ZIP bundle from the Broadcom Support Portal.

A reboot of the host and migration or shutdown of virtual machines is required for installation.

With ESXi 8.0 Update 3e’s free availability, VMware is democratizing access to cutting-edge virtualization technology.

Packed with invaluable upgrades, it’s a must-have for anyone running a virtualized environment. If you’ve been on the fence about adopting VMware, now is the perfect time to dive in.

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