One or more Gigabit or faster Ethernet controllers. Verify your NIC chipset against the VMware Compatibility Guide, as legacy drivers were deprecated in 6.5.
Once downloaded, the ISO acts as a bootable image. You can mount it to inspect contents (optional): vmware esxi 6.5 download iso
Compatible 64-bit x86 processor with a minimum of two cores. AMD/Intel hardware virtualization (Intel VT-x or AMD-V) must be enabled in the BIOS. One or more Gigabit or faster Ethernet controllers
Since ESXi 6.5 is no longer receiving security patches, do expose the management interface (HTTPS/SSH) directly to the internet or untrusted networks. Use this version only in isolated labs, air-gapped environments, or for legacy hardware support. or for legacy hardware support.