This allows you to create a vendor add-on that can be applied to clusters, ensuring all hosts have the exact same Cisco-validated driver and firmware levels.
Following VMware's acquisition by Broadcom, the download ecosystem transitioned. The Broadcom Support Portal is now the primary destination for custom hypervisor images.
Import the .zip file into the .
You’ll see a list like:
Broadcom no longer hosts these; they must be sourced directly from Cisco or Cisco Intersight. Log in to the Broadcom Support Portal. Navigate to My Downloads > VMware vSphere . Select your major version (e.g., 8.0). Click on the Custom ISOs tab at the top of the list.
Using the Cisco Custom ISO for ESXi offers several benefits, including:
Browse to your downloaded Cisco Custom ESXi ISO file and mount it. Step 2: Boot and Install Reboot the server via the KVM console power options. vmware esxi cisco custom iso top download
Locate the entry for and click the download icon. Manual Image Creation (Best Practice for ESXi 9.0+)
I can provide the exact and driver versions needed for your hardware. Share public link
| Cisco UCS Server Generation | Recommended ESXi Custom ISO | Minimum Firmware Version | |-----------------------------|-----------------------------|---------------------------| | M7 (e.g., B200 M7) | ESXi 8.0 Update 2 or newer | 4.2(3) | | M6 (e.g., C220 M6) | ESXi 7.0 Update 3o | 4.1(3b) | | M5 (e.g., B200 M5) | ESXi 7.0 Update 3c – 3o | 4.0(4a) | | M4 (legacy) | ESXi 6.7 Update 3 | 3.2(3c) | This allows you to create a vendor add-on
If you do not have a paid entitlement, some users report that custom vendor ISOs may still be downloadable for evaluation, though this depends on current portal policies. 💡 Pro Tip: Customizing Your Own
Includes essential drivers for Cisco VIC Ethernet and Fibre Channel adapters.
You can acquire official, safe Cisco Custom ISOs from two main portals. 1. VMware Customer Connect (Broadcom Support Portal) Import the