Contains the latest validated HPE drivers for storage controllers, network cards, and management components (e.g., smartpqi, enic).
| Component | Vanilla ESXi 7.0 U3 | HPE Customized ESXi 7.0 U3 | |------------|----------------------|-------------------------------| | (lpfc, qlnative) | Generic | HPE-tuned with async versions | | Management agents | None | hp-ams (Agent Management Service) | | iLO cooperation | Basic | Enhanced hponcfg and hptestevent | | VIBs added | N/A | hpe-esxi-fc , hpe-smx-provider , hpe-nmi | | Boot time | Standard | +5 seconds (due to agent injection)|
— The VMware Customer Connect portal has been replaced by the Broadcom Support Portal. Due to the site's architecture, direct links aren't available, so you must follow specific search paths. Broadcom provides an official knowledge base article detailing the exact steps to locate and download HPE Custom Images and Addons. Once logged into the portal, navigate to the "Downloads" section for VMware vSphere, select ESXi 7.0, and look for the "Custom ISOs" tab where the HPE image will be listed.
Once you have downloaded the ISO image, use this deployment workflow. Step 1: Mount the ISO via HPE iLO Log in to the web interface. Open the Remote Console (HTML5 or .NET application). Click on the Virtual Media menu.
#esxi7 #hpe #proliant
: While it supports newer generations, certain specific images might drop support for older hardware like Gen9 or earlier; always check the specific HPE VMware ESXi 7.0 U3 documentation for "Retired Tools" warnings.
: If you do not see the specific Build Number in the portal, try searching for "ESXi 7.0 Update 3o Release Notes" or similar to locate the correct download depot.
Specific IOVP-certified drivers for newer network and storage controllers found in Gen10 and Gen11 servers. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Important Compatibility Notes VMware ESXi Images for HPE Servers
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Alternatively, HPE maintains a dedicated portal for VMware images. You can often find the direct ISO links by searching for "HPE Customized Image for ESXi 7.0U3" within the HPE portal. Why Use the HPE Custom ISO? Driver Compatibility: It includes the specific Smart Array (storage) and
Mount the ISO image via HPE Integrated Lights-Out (iLO) remote console for a seamless deployment.
Ensure that you are not experiencing the "SD card hang issue," a common issue with early 7.0 builds that was resolved in later updates, but always validated by the HPE customized image.
HPE sometimes rebundles updates. Look for "ESXi 7.0 U3 Offline Bundle" or "HPE Custom Image for ESXi 7.0 U3 – March 2022 Rev A." vmware esxi 7.0 update 3 hpe customized iso image download
Using the generic image on HPE hardware often results in the installer failing to detect local hard drives or network adapters entirely. Changes in the Download Ecosystem (Broadcom Transition)
If you already have an HPE Service Pack for ProLiant (SPP) ISO (version 2021.10.0 or later), the ESXi 7.0 U3 customized image is often included in the ./packages folder. You can extract it directly without an internet download.
Direct driver and "Upgrade Pack" files are available via the HPE Support Center software details Included Customizations
Click the button next to the ESXi 7.0 U3 Custom ISO . Contains the latest validated HPE drivers for storage