Understanding the VMware ESXi limitations of the free Version

I am running an ESXi Vsphere Client Version 6.0.0 but with all the different documentation and changes I have trouble to understand my limitations. From the official documentation I see that my limit for physical CPU should be unlimited but I can only give a VM up to 8 vCPU.

From other sources I read that I have a limit of 2 physical CPU in the free version. I see that the memory limitation is gone, which I am happy about.

Is there any document or anything which gives me actual limitations? It seems that VMware is hiding it a bit ;) , at least I coudln't use google efficently to gather the correct info here.

I am only interested in the Hardware limitations, not the limits for creating failovers etc.

Those two stats you mention are different; it's 8 virtualised CPUs per VM and 2 physical CPU sockets that they're talking about - not the same thing. BTW if you're going with the free version have a look at THIS great new ESXi add-in that gives you a vCenter-like interface into your host via a web client - it's really new and really useful :)

Free version Hypervisor (Esxi) Version 6.0

• 2 (physical) CPU limit
• No Ram limit (removed since 5.5)

Hypervisor Spec

• Number of cores per physical CPU: No limit
• Number of physical CPUs per host: No limit
• Number of logical CPUs per host: 480
• Maximum vCPUs per virtual machine: 8

http://www.vmware.com/ap/products/vsphere-hypervisor/gettingstarted.html

When you apply the ESXi 6 free license, it appears :

Product : VMware vSphere Hypervisor Licenced 6 for 2 physical CPUs ( unlimited cores per CPU)

Product features:

Up to 8 -way virtual SMP

Extracted from: http://www.sysadmit.com/2016/03/vmware-esxi-gratuito-limitaciones.html