Introduction to asav9-20-2-10.vhdx Software
The asav9-20-2-10.vhdx package represents Cisco’s enterprise-grade virtual firewall solution optimized for Microsoft Hyper-V environments. As part of the ASA Software 9.20.2.x release train, this build specifically enhances hybrid cloud security operations through native integration with Azure Stack HCI 21H2 and Windows Server 2022 Hyper-V platforms.
This Virtual Hard Disk (VHDX) format enables automated deployment in software-defined data centers while maintaining consistent security policies across physical and virtual infrastructure. The 9.20.2.10 update focuses on compliance with NIST SP 800-193 Platform Firmware Resilience requirements and introduces hardware-assisted cryptography for 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors.
Key Features and Improvements
1. Hyper-V Environment Optimization
- SR-IOV Network Performance
Achieves 38Gbps throughput with 64B packets on Mellanox ConnectX-6 DX adapters through enhanced single-root I/O virtualization support.
2. Cryptographic Acceleration
- Intel QAT 1.7 Integration
Offloads IPsec IKEv2 operations to QuickAssist Technology chips, reducing VPN session establishment latency by 62% compared to software-based encryption.
3. Cloud Security Enhancements
- Azure Arc Integration
Enables centralized policy management for distributed ASAv instances through Microsoft’s hybrid cloud control plane.
4. TLS Inspection Upgrade
- Supports TLS 1.3 decryption with ECDHE-ECDSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 cipher suite for modern web application protection.
5. Cluster Stability Improvements
- Implements virtual MAC address persistence during live migration events to maintain stateful failover in stretched Hyper-V clusters.
Compatibility and Requirements
Supported Hypervisors
| Platform | Version | Minimum RAM | Virtual CPUs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Server 2022 | 21H2+ | 8GB | 4 |
| Azure Stack HCI | 21H2+ | 16GB | 8 |
| Hyper-V Server 2019 | RTM+ | 8GB | 4 |
Network Adapter Requirements
- Mellanox ConnectX-6 DX (For SR-IOV acceleration)
- Intel XXV710-DA2 (For 25GbE throughput)
- Broadcom 57416 (For LACP port-channel support)
Obtain Software Package
Cisco customers with active service contracts can:
1. Access Cisco Software Center
2. Navigate to “Security > Firewalls > Adaptive Security Appliance Virtual”
3. Select “ASAv Hyper-V 9.20.2.10” from version filters
For immediate deployment without contract validation, IOSHub.net provides verified VHDX images with optional SHA-512 checksum verification services. Our platform supports automated provisioning through SCVMM templates and PowerShell deployment scripts.
Compatibility Notice: This build requires UEFI Secure Boot enabled on Hyper-V hosts and does not support generation 1 virtual machines. Always validate digital signatures using Cisco’s published PGP keys before deployment.
