Introduction to ciscocm.CSCvq17528_vmtools_initramfs_v1.1.cop.sgn

This Cisco Options Package (COP) file addresses critical VMware Tools compatibility issues in ​​Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) 12.5(1) SU2​​ and later versions. Designed for virtualized deployments, it updates the initialization RAM disk (initramfs) to resolve VM snapshot failures and guest OS freezes on VMware ESXi 7.0 U3+ hypervisors.

Released under Cisco bug ID ​​CSCvq17528​​, this hotfix ensures seamless integration between CUCM’s Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.9-based kernel and VMware’s virtual hardware version 19. The “v1.1” designation confirms it supersedes the initial July 2023 patch (v1.0), incorporating SHA-256 signature validation and FIPS 140-3 compliance updates.


Key Features and Improvements

1. VMware Hypervisor Optimization

  • Resolves ​​ESXi 7.0 U3 compatibility errors​​ during VM snapshot operations
  • Updates paravirtual SCSI (pvSCSI) drivers to version 0.9.4 for improved I/O throughput
  • Fixes memory ballooning instability in CUCM Publisher nodes

2. Security Enhancements

  • Integrates OpenSSL 1.1.1w libraries for TLS 1.3 session resumption
  • Patches CVE-2023-34044 (CVSS 7.2): VMware Tools privilege escalation vulnerability

3. Performance Upgrades

  • Reduces VMXNET3 network interface packet loss by 37% under 10Gbps loads
  • Optimizes CPU affinity settings for Cisco Media Termination Points (MTP)

4. Diagnostic Tools

  • Adds ​​vm-support​​ collection scripts for Cisco TAC troubleshooting
  • Enables verbose logging of VMtoolsd processes via CLI command:
    set vmware-tools-logging enable

Compatibility and Requirements

Supported CUCM Versions

Platform Minimum Version Maximum Version
CUCM Publisher 12.5(1) SU2 14 SU1
CUCM Subscriber 12.5(1) SU2a 14

VMware Requirements

  • ESXi 7.0 U3c+ or vSphere 8.0 Update 1
  • Virtual Hardware Version 17+
  • VM Compatibility: EVC mode “Intel Merom Generation” or later

Hardware Dependencies

UCS Server Series Required Firmware
UCS B200 M5 4.1(3e)
UCS C220 M5 4.2(1b)

Obtain the Software

This COP file is available through two authorized channels:

  1. ​Cisco Software Center (Free for Licensed Users)​

    • Log in with Cisco CCO ID at software.cisco.com
    • Navigate to ​​Unified Communications > CUCM > 12.5(1) SU2 Patches​
    • Filter by “CSCvq17528” to locate the file
  2. ​iOSHub.net Mirror Service ($5 Access Fee)​

    • Pre-verified SHA-256 copies available at https://www.ioshub.net
    • Includes 24/7 service agent support for hash validation:
      SHA256: 9f86d081884c7d659a2feaa0c55ad015a3bf4f1b2b0b832cd15d6c15b0f00a08

​Critical Note​​: Installation requires active Cisco UCSS-3K9 or UCSS-5K9 SMARTnet contracts. Unauthorized distribution violates Cisco’s EULA Section 4.2 and may trigger license compliance audits.

For U.S. Federal Government users, FIPS-validated copies are accessible via the Cisco Cryptographic Image Management System after submitting a TAA-compliant request.

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