The HPE ISO image is a specialized "recipe" that includes the standard VMware ESXi installation packed with additional HPE components:
By taking advantage of the HPE Custom Image, you are not just installing a hypervisor—you are building a foundation for a high-performance, enterprise-grade virtualization environment.
Burn the ISO to a USB drive using tools like Rufus. Boot the ProLiant server and select the boot menu (F11). Choose the USB/Virtual Media as the boot device.
, which allows firmware and drivers to be updated via the iLO Repository. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Compatibility and Prerequisites VMware vSphere® Hypervisor ESXi ISO image - HPE Support
Before clicking any download link, you must understand why HPE spends thousands of engineering hours creating these custom images.
As of the Broadcom acquisition of VMware (late 2023/early 2024), the distribution model for vendor-specific ISOs (such as HPE) has undergone significant changes. Historically, HPE provided a customized ISO that included drivers for Smart Array controllers, NICs, and HPE-specific management tools.
VMware host downloads are managed through the Broadcom Support Portal following Broadcom's acquisition of VMware. Step 1: Access the Broadcom Support Portal
VMware ESXi 7.x is currently in general support, with a designated end of support date. As of the latest VMware lifecycle policies, ESXi 7.0 is in the phase. Broadcom has announced the end of general support for ESXi 7.x, with the end of support date being October 15, 2025 . Therefore, while ESXi 7.0 U3 remains a robust and widely used platform, it is wise to begin planning your migration to ESXi 8.0 to ensure continued support and security updates beyond 2025.
Improved performance and cross-compatibility for high-speed enterprise storage networks.
Top Guide: VMware ESXi 7.0 Update 3 HPE Customized ISO Image Download & Installation
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Essential for storage visibility and RAID array management during initial boot.