. This specific build represents a significant milestone in VMware’s virtualization history, though it has since moved well beyond its support lifecycle. Key Specifications & Release Details Build Number: Thomas-Krenn.AG Release Date: September 22, 2013 endoflife.date Architecture: x86_64 (64-bit) File Format: ISO Image (Installer) Standard File Name: VMware-VMvisor-Installer-5.5.0-1331820.x86_64.iso Download & Availability
VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi 5.5.0 (Build 1331820) is the Generally Available (GA) release of the 5.5 version, originally launched on September 22, 2013
At the time, VMware was the undisputed king of virtualization, but the landscape was shifting. Microsoft’s Hyper-V was becoming a viable competitor, and open-source solutions like KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) were gaining traction in the Linux community. VMware needed to release a version of vSphere that not only solidified its market dominance but also addressed the exploding demands for storage and memory. Microsoft’s Hyper-V was becoming a viable competitor, and
When this ISO was released, it introduced features that were revolutionary for the time:
For those who remember downloading the , the installation process was a marvel of simplicity compared to its predecessors. In 2013, SSDs were expensive but incredibly fast
In 2013, SSDs were expensive but incredibly fast. vFRC allowed IT teams to use a smaller amount of expensive SSD storage to accelerate the performance of VMDKs sitting on slower, cheaper spinning hard drives (HDDs). This was a critical performance optimization technology before all-flash arrays became affordable.
Proceed with caution, but with confidence—ESXi 5.5 U1 (1331820) was built for the long haul, and a decade later, it still runs as reliably as the day it shipped in 2013. Proceed with caution
The release of this ISO brought several features that are now considered standard but were revolutionary at the time.