To download the Cisco Custom VMware ESXi ISO, you must access the Broadcom Support Portal following Broadcom's acquisition of VMware. These custom images are specifically pre-configured with the necessary drivers (such as the Cisco VIC Ethernet driver) required for proper installation and operation on Cisco UCS hardware. How to Download the Cisco Custom ISO
The standard download location has shifted from the old VMware site to the Broadcom portal.
Log in to the Broadcom Support Portal with a registered account. Navigate to My Downloads > VMware vSphere.
Select your desired major version (e.g., vSphere 8.0 or 7.0).
At the top of the version selection page, click on the Custom ISOs tab.
Locate the Cisco Custom Image for ESXi for your specific release (e.g., 8.0 Update 3) and click Go To Downloads. Creating a Custom ISO Manually
If a specific pre-built ISO is unavailable or you need to include newer drivers, you can build your own using the vSphere Lifecycle Manager (vLCM) within vCenter:
Import Drivers: Download the latest driver zip files from Cisco Product Support and import them into the vLCM Software Depot.
Define Image: Create a new cluster image, selecting the base ESXi version and adding specific Cisco components like the Cisco VIC Ethernet Driver.
Export: Use the Export option in vLCM to generate a bootable ISO file. Key Considerations Installing VMware ESXi 9 with the Latest Cisco Drivers
Following Broadcom's acquisition of VMware, the primary location for downloading official Cisco-customized ESXi ISO images has moved to the Broadcom Support Portal
. These custom images are essential for Cisco UCS (Unified Computing System) hardware, as they include critical drivers like (Ethernet) and
(Fibre Channel) that are not present in the standard VMware image. Broadcom Community Top Official Download Sources Broadcom Support Portal
: The current official repository for all VMware vSphere downloads, including vendor-specific custom ISOs. Access Path Broadcom Support Portal My Downloads VMware vSphere > Select Version > Custom ISOs Cisco Software Central
: Used primarily for downloading standalone drivers, firmware, and specific HyperFlex images. Access Path Cisco Software Download > Search for your server model (e.g., "UCS X210c") > Unified Computing System (UCS) Drivers Broadcom Community How to Access the ISO on Broadcom Portal
Finding the custom image can be non-intuitive due to the portal's layout: vmware esxi cisco custom iso top download
: A registered Broadcom account with active entitlements is required. Navigate to vSphere : Go to "My Downloads" and search for "VMware vSphere". Filter by Version : Select the major release (e.g., vSphere 8.0). Select Custom ISOs : Look for a tab or menu item labeled Custom ISOs at the top of the version list. Identify Cisco Image
: Locate the "Cisco Custom Image for ESXi" entry and click to see available sub-versions. Broadcom Community Alternative: Creating a Custom ISO
If a specific version is unavailable on the portal, you can build your own using the vSphere Lifecycle Manager (vLCM) within vCenter: Cisco custom ESXi Images | VMware vSphere
The official download for Cisco Custom ESXi ISOs has moved from the legacy VMware site to the Broadcom Support Portal. You no longer download these directly from Cisco’s public software page; instead, they are hosted as part of your vSphere entitlements. 📥 Where to Download
You must log in to the Broadcom Support Portal using an account with active VMware entitlements. Navigate to My Downloads in the left-hand sidebar.
Search for and select VMware vSphere (do not select "VMware vSphere ESXi" directly, as the custom tab may not appear there). Choose your Major Version (e.g., 8.0 or 7.0).
Switch to the Custom ISOs tab at the top of the product list.
Search or filter for "Cisco" to find the specific Install CD for your hardware. 🛠️ Verification & Compatibility
Before installing, ensure the ISO version matches your Cisco UCS firmware to avoid driver conflicts.
UCS Compatibility Tool: Check the Cisco Hardware & Software Interoperability Matrix to verify which ESXi version is supported for your specific server model and VIC (Virtual Interface Card).
Version Format: Look for filenames like VMware-ESXi-8.0.U2-XXXX-Custom-Cisco-4.3.2.iso.
Trial Users: 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
If you need a specific patch level not provided in the pre-built ISO, you can create one manually: Cisco custom ESXi Images | VMware vSphere
To download the Cisco Custom ISO for VMware ESXi, you must use the Broadcom Support Portal, as Broadcom now hosts all VMware downloads following its acquisition of the company. How to Download from Broadcom
Log In: Access the Broadcom Support Portal with your registered personal or company account. To download the Cisco Custom VMware ESXi ISO,
Navigate to Downloads: Click on My Downloads in the left-hand menu.
Find vSphere: Search for "VMware vSphere" and select the product corresponding to your entitlement (e.g., VMware vSphere Enterprise Plus).
Select Version: Choose your desired major version, such as 8.0 or 7.0.
Access Custom ISOs: Look for the Custom ISOs tab at the top of the version list.
Download Cisco Image: Locate the Cisco Custom Image for ESXi in the list and click the download icon. Alternative: Create a Custom ISO
If you need specific drivers (like the latest VIC Ethernet drivers) or are using ESXi 9.0+, you can build your own image using the vSphere Lifecycle Manager (vLCM):
Import Drivers: Download the required driver ZIP files from the Cisco Support Site and import them into the vSphere Lifecycle Manager.
Build Image: Create a new cluster image, select the base ESXi version, add the Cisco drivers as Independent Components, and then use the Export option to generate a bootable ISO. Key Links for Cisco UCS Users
The Cisco Custom ISO for VMware ESXi is a hardware-specific installation image designed to ensure seamless compatibility between VMware vSphere and Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) hardware. Quick Review: Why Use a Cisco Custom ISO?
Driver Integration: It includes the latest Cisco-certified drivers (e.g., VIC Ethernet and Storage drivers like enic and fnic) that are not present in the standard VMware base image.
Stability: Using the custom ISO prevents installation failures on UCS hardware and minimizes peripheral issues after deployment.
Simplified Management: It aligns the hypervisor with Cisco UCS firmware, allowing for better monitoring and control through tools like the Cisco UCS Manager Plug-in. Top Download Locations (As of April 2026)
The download process has changed following Broadcom's acquisition of VMware. Primary Download Source ESXi 8.0 & Older Broadcom Support Portal
Found under the "Custom ISOs" tab within the vSphere download section. ESXi 9.0 & Newer Cisco Software Central
Broadcom no longer hosts these; they must be sourced directly from Cisco or Cisco Intersight. How to Download from Broadcom (ESXi 8.x and below) 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. Use Rufus (Windows) or dd (Linux) to write
Locate the entry for Cisco Custom Image for ESXi and click the download icon. Manual Image Creation (Best Practice for ESXi 9.0+)
Cisco now recommends using vSphere Lifecycle Manager (vLCM) to build your own custom image by combining the VMware base image with the latest Cisco Add-on drivers.
Step 1: Download the latest Cisco Add-on drivers from Cisco Product Support. Step 2: Import these drivers into the vLCM Software Depot.
Step 3: Create a new cluster image in vCenter, add the Cisco components, and Export it as a bootable ISO.
Are you planning to perform a fresh installation or an in-place upgrade of your existing UCS environment?
Here’s a step-by-step guide to downloading the Cisco Custom ISO for VMware ESXi from Cisco’s official portal.
If you are a Cisco Partner, log into the Partner Hub for NFR (Not for Resale) access to all custom ISOs.
Use Rufus (Windows) or dd (Linux) to write the ISO to a USB drive. Ensure the USB is formatted as FAT32, not NTFS, because Cisco UCS servers use UEFI boot.
If you hit a “Permission Denied” or file not found, your Cisco account likely lacks entitlement. Contact your Cisco partner or account team to attach the correct service contract to your CCO ID.
This is a specific enterprise infrastructure query. You are looking for the top (most downloaded/stable/recommended) VMware ESXi Cisco Custom ISO—not the generic VMware ISO.
Here is the deep-feature breakdown of what you are actually looking for and why it matters.
Not all downloads are equal. A "top download" refers to the most recent, stable, and widely adopted version that the community trusts. Here is why you should prioritize the top/latest version:
Q: Can I use the VMware ESXi Cisco custom ISO on non-Cisco hardware (e.g., Dell or HPE)?
A: Technically, yes. Practically, no. The Cisco drivers may conflict with non-Cisco storage controllers, leading to PSOD. Always use the vendor-specific image.
Q: How often does Cisco release a new custom ISO?
A: Cisco releases a new ISO within 4-6 weeks after every VMware major or patch release (e.g., ESXi 8.0U2 -> 8.0U3).
Q: What is the "top download" for a home lab using Cisco C220 M4?
A: For an M4 lab server, the top stable download is ESXi 7.0 Update 3o (custom Cisco build #22348816). ESXi 8.0 does not officially support M4 CPUs (Haswell/Broadwell).
Q: Do I need a SmartNet contract just to download the ISO?
A: For the Cisco direct portal, yes. However, you can download the same ISO from my.vmware.com using a free VMware evaluation account.
