ESXi 8.0 lacks drivers for your NIC (e.g., Realtek, old Intel PRO/1000). You need a community driver (e.g., USB Network Native Driver for ESXi) or switch to ESXi 7.0.
for evaluation. This version includes an embedded license and does not require a separate key for basic use. Step-by-Step Download Process Download -2021- Vmware Esxi 8.0 Iso
If you are stuck on the "2021" keyword, you may be comparing hypervisors. ESXi 8
All official downloads are now consolidated under Broadcom's infrastructure. Broadcom Support Portal : This is the primary source for all VMware vSphere downloads , including standard and vendor-customized images. Free Version : You can download the ESXi 8.0 Update 3e Free Hypervisor Download -2021- Vmware Esxi 8.0 Iso