Cisco UCS 260M2 5.5 U3 - custom image and compatibility

[geruby]

TAC has turned a customer around and pointed at a compatibility matrix for an installed UCS-C 260M2 claiming that the firmware on the UCS and the current version of Vmware is not supported.

They are suggesting that the customer moves to fimware 1.5(9) and they use a custom Cisco image for Vmware.

This installation is for UC/CCE so I have to make sure that the Vmware version matches the versions supported in the docwiki for those products as well.

http://www.cisco.com/web/techdoc/ucs/interoperability/matrix/matrix.html

The drop down indicates Vmware 5.5 U3 is a supported build and I find that 5.5 is supported in the dockwiki. So far so good.

However, when I try to find a custom image for 5.5 U3 the only image I can find it this one:

https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/details?productId=353&downloadGroup=OEM-ESXI55U3A-CISCO#product_downloads

Vmware 5.5 U3a. The driver version specified on that page don't match the driver versions that the Interoperability matrix indicates should be used.

First off, is there a Cisco custom image for 5.5 U3, could someone point me to that image so that these driver versions are the same?

Second, can I use the Cisco Custom ISO to upgrade a vanilla Vmware 5.1 U3 install?

-GDR

[Kirk J · Accepted solution]

Greetings.

The Cisco Custom images are just a collection of drivers that were current at the time it was submitted to VMware.  It is not expected that the custom iso will exactly match the interop matrix (it might have at the time it was created), but at least provide more current drivers than what is typically installed in the general VMware releases.

The interop matrix will list out the specific driver, i.e. igb intel 1Gb nic driver.  You will download the matching driver version from VMware site, and install so you match the requirements called out by the interop matrix.

You should be able to use a Cisco custom ISO to upgrade.  When your custom install ISO scans your existing system, it will see higher revision of the drivers/VIBs and update to those.  The Cisco customized ISOs are simply the original VMware releases with updated drivers injected into them.

Thanks,

Kirk...