Hi, I'm sorry, but for me it's unclear as to what version of VMware I need in order to use Veeam Backup & Replication?
There is 2 Q & A which gives me doubts:
Q: Is ESXi fully supported?
A: Yes, licensed ESXi is fully supported since version 3.0 released in February 2009.
Q: What about free ESXi, also known as vSphere Hypervisor?
A: Unlicensed ESXi is not supported, because VMware has vStorage API for Data Protection and other management APIs locked down on unlicensed hosts specifically to prevent ISVs from being able to manage such hosts.
Does that mean I download the free version and then license it? - If so how do I find the cost? - OR - is it merely vSphere Essentials?
The minimum VMware licensing required is vSphere Essentials. As for VMware's pricing and products offerings, please look through this document. Thanks.