ESXi download link for UCS C240 M5SX for new UCCE 12.0 deployment

[harish.doer]

Hi Team,

We are planning to UCCE upgrade from v10.5 to v12.0 to one of our customers and ordered UCE C240 and C220 servers. For Business editions servers, ESXI is pre-installed and the same ISO is placed in the datastore for future use. In our case, it's a spec-based server, and we have to install ESXi. Want to know, what is the recommended path or file to download the ESXi OS. 

As per the Compatability matrix, ESXi 6.5 U3 or 6.7 U2 is recommended. Your inputs are much helpful. 

[Kirk J · Accepted solution]

Re-using one of my previous post responses:

I would take a look at https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/td/docs/voice_ip_comm/uc_system/virtualization/virtualization-cisco-unified-communications-manager.html which lists the various UC applications, hardware, and ESXi versions, and go with a more recent version of ESXi that your UC application is supported on.

For instance, version 12.5 of CUCM, lists compatibility with ESXi 6.5 and ESXi 6.7.

I would probably go with the latest version of a Cisco Customized image unless the CUCM/call manager team lists some known compatibility issue with it.

Let's say you see that UC chart shows you can go with 6.5 or 6.7, and you decide to go with 6.5.  You would go to https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/details?downloadGroup=OEM-ESXI65U3-CISCO&productId=614 and download.

Once installed, you also should check the UCS matrix at https://ucshcltool.cloudapps.cisco.com/public/#, and pick the correct standalone server (i.e. C220m4/m5), the version of ESXi (i.e. 6.5U3), and confirm what drivers should be installed. 

The image will have relatively recent drivers, but again, those are just a point in time image, and the HCL is updated as bugs or driver improvements are released.  That HCL will also reference a Firmware level on the server, and the Firmware on these servers is updated via an ISO/bootable update image called a HUU.  If you have a C220M5 based server, then you would go to https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286318809/type/283850974/release/4.1(1f)?i=!pp

Also, you can adjust the Version displayed on console with Esxi shell command: esxcli system welcomemsg set -m="Cisco business Edition 6.5.3 export Unrestricted Edition" 

For application specific compatibility questions, you may want to post over in the application area of the forums at: https://community.cisco.com/t5/contact-center/bd-p/5926-discussions-contact-center

Kirk...