How to install and configure VMware ESX 9.1 in 2026

This guide covers the installation and initial configuration of VMware ESX 9.1, the current release of Broadcom’s bare-metal hypervisor. Since version 9.0 the product is simply called ESX (formerly ESXi), although image and file names still use the ESXi prefix. At the time of writing, the latest release is ESX 9.1.1.0 (build 25714478, September 3, 2026).

Whether you’re setting up a production host or a home lab, this is the updated procedure for 2026. Note that ESX 9.x is delivered with VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) and VMware vSphere Foundation (VVF), so download and licensing work differently from ESXi 8.0.

What you need before you start

Hardware requirements

These are the minimum requirements for ESX 9.x, as specified in the official Broadcom documentation:

Component	Minimum	Recommended
CPU	64-bit x86, at least 2 cores, NX/XD bit and Intel VT-x or AMD RVI enabled	A CPU series listed as supported in the Compatibility Guide
RAM	8 GB	12 GB or more for production
Boot disk	32 GB (HDD, SSD, or NVMe)	128 GB or more SSD/NVMe (128 TBW endurance, 100 MB/s sequential write)
Network	1 x Gigabit Ethernet or faster	–
Firmware	BIOS (limited support) or UEFI	UEFI (recommended)

Important: starting with VCF 9.1, USB and SD boot devices, hosts without a persistent device for the ESX-OSData partition, and system storage devices smaller than 32 GB are deprecated and will be removed in the next major release. Broadcom’s KB 317631 (“SD card/USB boot device revised guidance”) lists 128 GB as the minimum boot device size for ESX 9.x. For any new install, use an SSD, NVMe, or HDD of at least 128 GB as boot device.

Before purchasing or repurposing hardware, verify compatibility using the Broadcom Compatibility Guide. The ESX 9.x installer blocks the installation on CPU series that Broadcom has discontinued, see KB 318697 for the current list.

Installation steps

1. Download the ESX ISO

The download is no longer available from VMware Customer Connect. The current source is the Broadcom Support Portal. ESX 9.x is not listed on the legacy vSphere download page: it is part of the VCF and VVF 9.x bundles.

1. Go to support.broadcom.com and log in. The ESX 9.x installer is listed only if your account has an active VCF or VVF 9.x entitlement.
2. Use the dropdown next to your username, select VMware Cloud Foundation, then open My Downloads.
3. In the search bar, search for VMware Cloud Foundation or VMware vSphere Foundation, depending on your entitlement, and select version 9.
4. Select the latest release (at the time of writing, 9.1.1.0).
5. Accept both the Terms and Conditions and the Compliance Reporting Terms and Conditions, click View Group next to VMware ESX, and download the ISO installer.

If your server vendor provides a custom image, open the Custom ISOs tab on the same release page. For older custom images, check the vendor’s website: OEMs host the versions that are no longer listed on the portal.

2. Create a bootable USB drive

Use a tool such as Rufus (Windows) or balenaEtcher (Windows/macOS/Linux) to write the ISO to a USB drive. Select DD mode if prompted. The USB drive is only the installation media: the host itself must boot from a persistent disk, as described above.

Alternatively, you can boot from the ISO directly via your server’s virtual media (iDRAC, iLO, IPMI) if available – this is the preferred method for remote or rack installations.

3. Boot and install

1. Insert the USB drive (or mount the ISO via virtual media) and boot the server from it.
2. The ESX installer loads. Press Enter to begin.
3. Accept the End User License Agreement (F11).
4. Select the boot disk where ESX will be installed. Choose an SSD, NVMe, or HDD of at least 128 GB – do not select your VM datastore disk.
5. Select the keyboard layout and set the root password. Use a strong password: this is the only local admin account on the host.
6. Confirm the installation (F11). The process takes a few minutes.
7. When complete, remove the USB drive and press Enter to reboot.

4. Initial network configuration

After reboot, ESX loads to a text console called the Direct Console User Interface (DCUI).

1. Press F2 to access system settings (you’ll need the root password).
2. Go to Configure Management Network.
3. Under Network Adapters, select the physical NIC to use for management.
4. Under IPv4 Configuration, set a static IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway.
5. Under DNS Configuration, set the hostname and DNS servers.
6. Press Escape, then Y to apply the changes and restart the management network.

5. Access the VMware Host Client

Once the network is configured, you can manage the host from any browser on the same network:

https://<esx-ip-or-hostname>/ui

Log in with username root and the password set during installation. From here you can create and manage virtual machines, configure storage, and monitor the host – no additional software required. To manage hosts through vCenter instead, see our guide to the vSphere Client in 2026.

What to do next

• Create your first virtual machine: in the Host Client, go to Virtual Machines and click Create / Register VM.
• Connect to vCenter Server and license the host: if this host is part of a managed environment, add it to a vCenter 9.x instance from the vSphere Client at https://<vcenter>/ui. Once the vCenter instance is licensed, the host is licensed automatically.
• Replace the self-signed SSL certificate: in production, replace the default certificate with one signed by a trusted CA to avoid browser warnings and ensure secure management access.
• Enable SSH (optional): from the Host Client, go to Manage > Services > TSM-SSH and start the service. Disable it again when not in use.

A note on ESX licensing

ESX 9.x no longer supports 25-character license keys, and you can no longer license a host from the vSphere Client or the Host Client. Licenses are managed in VCF Operations and assigned only to the vCenter instance: the ESX hosts connected to it are licensed automatically.

After installation, ESX runs in evaluation mode for 90 days with full functionality (the evaluation period was 60 days in earlier releases). Before it expires, add the host to a vCenter instance that has a valid VCF or VVF license.

If you need a free hypervisor for a lab, Broadcom documents it only for ESXi 8.0 (8.0 U3e, see KB 399823). It is a separate download with the license embedded and it is limited: no vCenter management, no vMotion, DRS, HA or VADP-based backup, read-only API access (which prevents most third-party backup solutions and write-capable automation tools from operating against the host), a maximum of 8 vCPUs per VM and 2 physical CPUs per host, and no Broadcom support.