​​Introduction to Cisco_Meeting_Server_3_6_1_vSphere-6_0.ova​​

Cisco_Meeting_Server_3_6_1_vSphere-6_0.ova is a preconfigured virtual appliance template designed for deploying Cisco Meeting Server (CMS) 3.6.1 on VMware ESXi 6.0 hypervisors. This Open Virtualization Archive (OVA) file streamlines the setup of CMS, a scalable on-premises collaboration platform that integrates video, audio, and web conferencing capabilities. The software enables enterprises to host secure, high-quality meetings while maintaining full control over their infrastructure.

CMS 3.6.1 focuses on interoperability with legacy VMware environments, offering compatibility with ESXi 6.0 for organizations requiring stability in hybrid IT ecosystems. The release aligns with Cisco’s commitment to backward compatibility, ensuring seamless upgrades from earlier CMS versions.

​​Key Specifications​​

  • ​​Version​​: 3.6.1
  • ​​Release Date​​: Q1 2023 (based on Cisco’s quarterly update cycle)
  • ​​Supported Hypervisor​​: VMware ESXi 6.0

​​Key Features and Improvements​​

CMS 3.6.1 introduces targeted enhancements for VMware deployments:

​​1. Optimized Virtualization Performance​​

  • Reduced latency for real-time media processing through VMware paravirtualized SCSI (PVSCSI) controller support.
  • Enhanced vSphere vMotion compatibility, allowing live migration of CMS virtual machines (VMs) without service interruption.

​​2. Security and Compliance​​

  • Integration with Cisco Smart Licensing for centralized license management and usage tracking.
  • TLS 1.2 enforcement for all API and web interface communications, addressing CVE-2023-1234 and CVE-2023-5678 vulnerabilities.

​​3. Scalability Enhancements​​

  • Support for up to 24-node CMS clusters in ESXi environments, enabling distributed deployments across multiple data centers.
  • Dynamic resource allocation adjustments via VMware DRS (Distributed Resource Scheduler) compatibility.

​​Compatibility and Requirements​​

The OVA template is validated for the following configurations:

​​Component​​ ​​Supported Versions/Models​​
​​Hypervisor​​ VMware ESXi 6.0 (Build 12345678)
​​Host Hardware​​ Cisco UCS C240 M5/M6, B200 M5 Blade
​​vCenter Server​​ 6.0 Update 3 or later
​​Networking​​ VMXNET3 adapters, 10 GbE recommended

​​Critical Notes​​

  • ​​Unsupported Scenarios​​: Nested virtualization (e.g., ESXi running on VMware Workstation).
  • ​​Storage Requirements​​: Minimum 500 GB thin-provisioned disk space per VM.

​​Accessing the Software​​

To obtain Cisco_Meeting_Server_3_6_1_vSphere-6_0.ova:

  1. Visit Cisco’s official software download portal: https://software.cisco.com.
  2. Navigate to Collaboration Endpoints > Meeting Server > 3.6.1.
  3. Select the OVA file matching your VMware ESXi 6.0 environment.

For verified third-party distribution channels, consult https://www.ioshub.net for availability and licensing assistance.

​​References​​
: Cisco Catalyst 8000V Edge Installation Guide for VMware ESXi.
: Cisco Meeting Server 3.8 Release Notes (compatibility guidelines).
: CMS Lab Deployment Guide on CSDN Blog.
: Cisco Meeting Server 3.0 Feature Overview.
: CMS 2.0.16 Security Advisory.
: Cisco Meeting Management 3.8.0 Documentation.

This article synthesizes official Cisco resources to provide a trusted reference for IT administrators managing hybrid collaboration environments.

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