Cisco Custom ISO's

[Leilak!!!]

What determines whether or not Cisco will put out a custom ISO?  It doesn't seem like they release custom ISO's that often, maybe one or two times a year.  Will they release a custom ISO for ESXi 6.7 PO6 build number 18828794?  I've looked on VMware's site and  the last one released is "Cisco Custom Image for ESXi 6.7 U3 GA Install CD" on 2021-06-14.  My blades are on VMware ESXi, 6.7.0, 17700523 and I want to go to 18828794.  Should I just go ahead and update if Cisco doesn't plan to release a custom ISO? 

[Kirk J · Accepted solution]

Greetings.

Cisco definitely does not release a customized ISO for every patch release.

Generally you will see one for all major releases (i.e. U1, U2, U3, etc) and occasionally some will be released when there  are minor specific patch releases that target major fixes for security or functionality.

Use the Cisco customized releases to get as close to your target patch level as possible, and then use the minor offline bundles from VMware to patch up to your target patch level.

Kirk...

[IT AdminOps]

Hi Kirk,

Can you help us to find the latest release for Cisco custom VIB or ISO files for ESXi 5.5 and 6.7? We cannot find this as well, thank you

[Riaan van Niekerk]

If you follow the Broadcom KB article, you can choose all the way back to 5.5. Click Custom ISOs from this 5.5 page.

These pre-7.0 versions have install only lSOs. No custom offline bundles or vendor/OEM add-ons.