Cisco Custom ESXI Images

[Ross Stevenson]

I've been trawling round and searching the community posts and information online to try and find and answer to this question, so hoping someone can help.

I'm after a specific Cisco Custom ESXI 8.0u3 image, but it appears Broadcom are only hosting the latest and greatest, which is the 4.3.6 version.

I have VMware-ESXi-8.0.U3-24022510-Custom-Cisco-4.3.4-a but need the 4.3.2 version of this image for a UCS server.

Broadcom have this readme file stating their stance on this, but I've been to Cisco direct who have said they don't and won't provide images and its Broadcoms responsibility. Can someone please point me in the right direction please?

For each version of vSphere (major and update releases, e.g. 8.0, 8.0U1, 8.0U2, 8.0U3, 9.0), Broadcom only hosts the single, most recent OEM Custom ISO and Addon that was certified by Broadcom.  OEMs are responsible to host any older certified Custom ISO and Addon for any version of vSphere.

Please refer to the OEM's web site for any Custom ISO or Addon not listed here.  As OEM web sites are not under Broadcom control, exact URL locations are not tracked.  For questions, please contact your OEM representative. 

[Alexandru Capras]

I recently used the 4.3.6 version, but I have no idea where to get an older one. Typically, I'd suggest getting it from the vendor, but since they already redirected you to Broadcom, and Broadcom will probably point you back to the vendor, you're stuck in this loop... 

Maybe someone has the version downloaded and could share it, but I'm not sure how "compliant" or secure that would be... I personally wouldn't feel comfortable with that.

I'd recommend raising a case with Broadcom to get an official statement clarifying that providing older versions isn't their responsibility, and they only host the latest certified OEM images... maybe you can pressure Cisco and you'll get it from them?

[RaSystemlord]

If the vendor does not provide old versions, for software that you have bought from them and you ARE paying for maintenance, is not really possible. It is against all software vendor ethics. However, if you are not paying for maintenance, then you get none.

If the software is Freeware, then the vendor is not obliged to do anything, especially for customers how have never bought anything or are paying maintenance for nothing. However, then there is no problem either - just use Google and then you get the software. This is the case for VMware Workstation/Player right now. But how they treat customers who HAVE bought the software in near past, is another discussion - but there is no technical problem ... since the solution has been given 100 times here.

Any customer, who buys software with some installation keys, should archive the media and the keys. This should be generic knowledge by now - I understand that not all of the customers do it.