As of 2021, ESXi 6.7 was technically in "General Support" until October 2022. That meant:
The Verdict for 2021:
If you are researching this topic, the following official documents are the most helpful "papers" to cite regarding the architecture, installation, and management of ESXi 6.7. download vmware vsphere hypervisor esxi 67 2021
In the search bar (not the main product carousel), type: "vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 6.7"
Important: Do not select "vSphere 6.7" (that includes a 60-day vCenter trial). Select the dedicated entry that says "VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 6.7" – usually listed under the "Free Products" category. As of 2021, ESXi 6
If the main product page hides old versions, try:
This is the primary document for the "Download and Install" aspect of your topic. It covers the ISO installation process, hardware requirements, and scripting. The Verdict for 2021: If you are researching
For a paper written in or about 2021, you must note that VMware ESXi 6.7 reached "General Support End of Life" on October 15, 2022.
However, in 2021, ESXi 6.7 was still under support but was considered an "older" generation compared to ESXi 7.0 Update 3 (released in late 2021).
Why downloading 6.7 in 2021 was difficult: In late 2020/early 2021, Broadcom announced its acquisition of VMware. By 2021, VMware had already transitioned the free version of ESXi (Hypervisor) to a 60-day trial model. The fully free "perpetual" license keys for ESXi 6.7 were discontinued or hidden behind the "VMware Customer Connect" portal.
The download will start.
Typical ISO size: ~350–400 MB.