Customized Image of VMware ESXi Availability and Download Instructions

Certain Dell PowerEdge servers require the use of Dell Customized Image of VMware ESXi for the easiest and most reliable deployment of a fully managed server. To determine if your server requires the Dell Customized Image of VMware ESXi, see Important Information for the Dell Customized ESXi Image.

Table of Contents

1. What drivers and files are modified or included on the Dell Customized Image of VMware ESXi?
2. Download the Dell Customized Image of ESXi from VMware
3. Installation

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What drivers and files are modified or included on the Dell Customized Image of VMware ESXi?

Each image is a customization of the base VMware image of a particular version. Dell customization of the image includes:

• Modifying files to identify Dell and Dell support.
• Updating the ESXi image with the latest validated asynchronous drivers.
• Updating patches if it addresses a common issue for Dell systems.

We recommended using the latest version of the image available for your Dell system.

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Download the Dell Customized Image of VMware ESXi from VMware Support

Documentation is found at Instructions to find Product Downloads, OEM custom images, Patches, and Addons in the Broadcom Support Portal

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Load the Broadcom Support portal web page
2. If you have not yet registered to the Broadcom site, create a registration. 
3. Log in with your Broadcom registered user credentials. 
4. Use the dropdown menu to the left of your name and select VMware Cloud Foundations.

5. From the left-hand menu, click My Downloads.

6. In the search bar in the upper right side of the page, enter "VMware vSphere" (vSphere is on the second page)

7. Select VMware vSphere enterprise and choose the ESXi version (choose the specific update later)

8. Select Custom ISO at the top and enter Dell in the search box. All Dell Custom ISO versions are on display.

9. Select the Custom ISO by name and ESXi release.
10. Download the deliverable and readme file for links to any OEM documentation. 

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Installation

To install ESXi, boot on the ISO file and follow the instructions. Alternative methods can be used to boot on the ISO file:

• How to Create a Bootable USB Device with Rufus to Update Dell Servers
• Using the Virtual Media Function on iDRAC6, iDRAC7, iDRAC8 and iDRAC9

Find the VMware compatibility information in the VMware compatibility Guide .

Not required

See above.