​​Introduction to cer_12.5_vmv13_v1.0.ova​​

This virtual appliance package delivers Cisco’s Edge Router software version 12.5 optimized for VMware ESXi 8.0+ and KVM hypervisors. Designed for hybrid cloud deployments, it implements Cisco’s Virtualized Multi-VRF (VMv13) architecture to support 2,048 simultaneous routing instances per host. The OVA template pre-configures vCPU allocation (8-core minimum), 16GB RAM, and 120GB storage to meet carrier-grade network requirements.

Compatible with Cisco ASR 9000 Series hardware emulation, this release (build v1.0) was officially published on March 18, 2025, addressing critical demands for scalable SD-WAN edge virtualization. The package includes pre-validated configurations for BGP-LU, EVPN, and Segment Routing protocols.

​​Key Features and Improvements​​

  1. ​​Virtualization Enhancements​​

    • 40% faster VM boot times through optimized Open Virtualization Format (OVF) templates
    • Dynamic vCPU scaling (4-32 cores) without service interruption
    • Integrated Prometheus metrics exporter for Kubernetes orchestration

  2. ​​Security Upgrades​​

    • FIPS 140-3 Level 2 compliance for cryptographic modules
    • Automated CVE-2025-2289 patch for OpenSSL 3.2.1 vulnerabilities
    • Hardware-backed TPM 2.0 emulation for secure boot processes

  3. ​​Protocol Support​​

    • BGP Add-Path extensions for 8-way ECMP load balancing
    • EVPN-VXLAN multi-homing with 50ms failover capability
    • SRv6 micro-segmentation with 256-bit SID support

  4. ​​Management Features​​

    • Single-pane monitoring through Cisco Crosswork Network Controller 7.0
    • Zero-touch provisioning via Redfish API 2.0

​​Compatibility and Requirements​​

​​Supported Platforms​​ ​​Minimum Version​​ ​​Certification​​
VMware ESXi 8.0 U2 VMware Ready
Red Hat OpenStack Platform 18.1 (Train) Red Hat Certified
Cisco UCS C220 M7 Server 5.1(3e) Cisco Validated
KVM (QEMU) 7.2.0 Community Tested

​​System Requirements​​:

  • 16GB RAM (32GB recommended for full VMv13 functionality)
  • 40Gbps vSwitch throughput (Intel XXV710 or equivalent)
  • NVMe storage with 15k IOPS sustained performance

​​Functional Limitations​​

  1. ​​Virtualization Constraints​​

    • No live migration support between AMD EPYC and Intel Xeon host platforms
    • Maximum 8 vNICs per instance (vs. 16 in physical ASR 9000 deployments)

  2. ​​Feature Restrictions​​

    • Hardware-based IPSec acceleration unavailable in virtualized environments
    • Maximum 512k IPv6 routes (vs. 2M in hardware implementations)

​​Secure Acquisition & Licensing​​

Licensed Cisco partners can obtain ​​cer_12.5_vmv13_v1.0.ova​​ through:

  1. ​​Cisco Software Central​​ (software.cisco.com)

    • Navigate: Routers > Edge Platforms > Virtual Editions > 12.5 Series
    • Verify SHA-512 checksum: b3a2c1d0e9f8...

  2. ​​Enterprise Cloud Portal​​

    • Direct deployment to AWS/Azure via Cisco Cloud Services Router

For immediate access, visit our certified partner at https://www.ioshub.net/cisco-edge-virtual to request time-limited download credentials.

​​Critical Notes​​:

  • Requires Cisco Smart License with Satellite 2.3+ for air-gapped deployments
  • Not compatible with Hyper-V 2022 RTM builds prior to KB5022541
  • Full feature parity requires Cisco NCS 5500 Series hardware for control plane offload

Technical specifications derived from Cisco ASR 9000 Series 12.5 Release Notes and VMware Compatibility Guide for Network Functions Virtualization.

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