Do not use tools like Etcher with ISO write mode for ESXi—it can produce unbootable media. Rufus in DD mode is safest.
If you already run HPE ESXi 6.x on Gen9/Gen10: vmware esxi 7 download iso hpe custom image
Downloading the is not just a best practice—it is mandatory for production environments. The extra 15 minutes spent locating the correct ISO from HPE’s support portal will save you countless hours debugging silent data corruption, inaccessible datastores, or blinds pots in hardware monitoring. Do not use tools like Etcher with ISO