This is the only legitimate "free" method for short-term use.

Searching for "vSphere 8 license keys" on GitHub is a common but risky way to find activation codes for home labs. While GitHub repositories often host community-shared "keys" or "keygens," these methods are unofficial and can expose your environment to security vulnerabilities. Legal & Safe Alternatives

Table_title: vCenter Server 8 Standard Table_content: header: | Key | Tested | row: | Key: 4F282-0MLD2-M8869-T89G0-CF240 | Tested: gist.github.com