The good news is that VMware (now Broadcom) still offers a of ESXi for home labs and testing. Follow this exact path to get your ISO:
If you're having trouble accessing the VMware website or prefer an alternative source, you can try: Download -2021- Vmware Esxi 8.0 Iso
This guide covers the technical prerequisites, download procedures, validation steps, and deployment strategies for VMware ESXi 8.0. Technical Prerequisites and Hardware Validation The good news is that VMware (now Broadcom)