VMware vSphere 7.0, which covers ESXi 7.0 and vCenter Server 7.0, reached the end of general support on 2 October 2025. Broadcom no longer releases routine patches or security fixes for it; technical guidance continues until 2 April 2027. The supported path is vSphere 8, but vSphere 8 itself reaches end of general support on 11 October 2027, so plan for VMware Cloud Foundation 9 or an alternative platform as the longer-term destination.
VMware vSphere 7 end-of-life dates at a glance
| What | Date |
|---|---|
| End of general support (ESXi 7.0 and vCenter Server 7.0) | 2 October 2025 |
| End of technical guidance | 2 April 2027 |
| vSphere 8 end of general support | 11 October 2027 |
Broadcom’s maintenance policy handbook sets out what service, if any, is available after general support ends. In practice, hypervisors past end of general support stop receiving the security fixes that keep them safe to run.
What end of general support means for your hosts
A hypervisor carries every virtual machine on it, so an unpatched ESXi host is a single point of exposure for the whole estate. Upgrading also involves hardware compatibility checks and licensing under Broadcom’s subscription model, so it takes longer to plan than an ordinary patch.
What to do now
- List every ESXi host and vCenter Server instance and its exact version.
- Choose the destination: vSphere 8 as a short step, VMware Cloud Foundation 9, or another platform.
- Check each host’s hardware against the compatibility guide for that destination, and confirm your licensing.
- Upgrade vCenter first, then the hosts, a cluster at a time.
- Track each host until it is upgraded or retired.
Frequently asked questions
When did vSphere 7 reach end of life?
VMware vSphere 7.0, including ESXi 7.0 and vCenter Server 7.0, reached the end of general support on 2 October 2025.
What should I upgrade vSphere 7 to?
vSphere 8 as a short step (its general support ends on 11 October 2027), or straight to VMware Cloud Foundation 9 or another platform, after checking each host’s hardware against the compatibility guide and confirming your licensing under Broadcom’s subscription model.
Sources
Broadcom: End of General Support for vSphere 7.0. Always confirm dates with the vendor before making decisions.