Introduction to Cisco_Secure_FW_Mgmt_Center_Virtual300_VMware-7.3.1-19-disk1.vmdk Software
The Cisco_Secure_FW_Mgmt_Center_Virtual300_VMware-7.3.1-19-disk1.vmdk represents the virtual disk image for Firepower Management Center (FMC) Virtual 300 appliances deployed on VMware ESXi hypervisors. As part of Cisco’s Secure Firewall solution suite, this software package enables centralized management of next-generation firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, and advanced malware protection across hybrid environments.
This Q3 2025 release (build 19) specifically targets organizations requiring enterprise-scale security management capabilities, supporting up to 300 managed sensors and 60 million event storage capacity. The virtual appliance format simplifies deployment in VMware environments while maintaining feature parity with physical FMC 3000-series devices.
Key Features and Improvements
Version 7.3.1 introduces several critical enhancements for VMware-based deployments:
- Enhanced Platform Integration
- Native support for VMware vSphere 8.0 Update 2
- Optimized resource allocation for ESXi hosts running multiple security VMs
- Security Posture Improvements
- TLS 1.3 cipher suite updates aligning with NIST SP 800-52 Rev.3 guidelines
- Automated certificate rotation for management plane communications
- Operational Efficiency Upgrades
- Reduced VM snapshot creation time by 40% during configuration backups
- Integrated health monitoring for vSphere storage performance metrics
- Compatibility Expansions
- Support for FTDv instances running 7.6.x firmware versions
- Extended compatibility with VMware NSX-T 4.1 network virtualization platforms
Compatibility and Requirements
The virtual appliance supports these VMware configurations:
| Component | Supported Versions | Minimum Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Hypervisor | ESXi 6.7 U3, 7.0 U2, 8.0 | 16 vCPUs, 48GB RAM |
| Storage | VMFS6, NFS 4.1 | 500GB thin-provisioned disk |
| Network | vSphere Standard Switch, NSX-T 3.2+ | 10Gbps NIC recommended |
Critical Pre-Deployment Considerations:
- Requires VMware Tools version 12.2.0 or later
- Incompatible with third-party antivirus solutions using real-time VM introspection
- Mandatory vSphere HA configuration for production deployments
Enterprise Support Options
For organizations requiring verified deployment packages, Cisco partners offer these service tiers:
- Rapid Deployment Kit ($5 Basic Verification)
- SHA-512 checksum validation
- VMware compatibility pre-scan report
- Baseline configuration templates
- Enterprise Deployment Assurance (Contact for Quote)
- Multi-hypervisor migration planning
- Performance benchmarking analysis
- Post-deployment optimization audit
Technical teams can access the complete release notes through Cisco’s Security Advisory portal (Cisco.com login required). For verified download availability, visit https://www.ioshub.net/cisco-fmc-virtual for mirror options and volume licensing inquiries.
