Today VMware has made the bits available for everyone to download.

Updated: ESXi Release and Build Number History

Updated: VMware Product Latest Version

VMware vSphere 6.0 Download

Longest releace cycle since vSphere 4.0

With 536 days, the ever shortening product release cycles have been interrupted. vSphere 6.0 had a long closed and open beta phase to hunt for bugs. Let's hope for smooth upgrades in the next couple of weeks.

ESX Release Date Days since

prior release 6.0 2015-03-12 536 5.5 2013-09-22 376 5.1 2012-09-11 384 5.0 2011-08-24 407 4.1 2010-07-13 418 4.0 2009-05-21 456 3.5 2008-02-20 615 3.0 2006-06-15 563 2.5 2004-11-29 244 2.1 2004-03-30 253 2.0 2003-07-21 434 1.5 2002-05-13 416 1.0 2001-03-23

VMware ESX History Diagram