Introduction to cucm_im_p_11.0_vmv8_v1.1.ova
The cucm_im_p_11.0_vmv8_v1.1.ova is a preconfigured virtual appliance for deploying Cisco Unified Communications Manager IM & Presence (IM&P) 11.0 on VMware vSphere environments. Designed for enterprises requiring real-time messaging and presence services, this Open Virtualization Format (OVA) template streamlines deployment of Cisco’s collaboration infrastructure while maintaining compatibility with legacy communication systems.
As part of Cisco’s virtualization strategy for collaboration suites, this image supports integration with Unified Communications Manager 11.x clusters, enabling administrators to consolidate instant messaging, SIP-based presence, and chat room services on VMware ESXi 6.7+ platforms. The vmv8_v1.1 designation indicates optimizations for 8th-generation vSphere virtual hardware, including enhanced vCPU allocation and memory ballooning controls.
Key Features and Improvements
-
Virtualization-Optimized Architecture
Implements VMware paravirtualized SCSI controllers and VMXNET3 network adapters to reduce I/O latency by 22% compared to previous OVA templates. Supports hot-add memory configurations for dynamic resource scaling during peak usage. -
Security Compliance
Pre-hardened configuration aligns with CIS Benchmark Level 2 standards, disabling unnecessary services like XMPP file transfer protocols by default. Includes TLS 1.2 cipher suite prioritization for secure inter-node communication. -
Legacy System Integration
Maintains backward compatibility with Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (UCCX) 10.6+ through SIP presence APIs, enabling hybrid deployments during migration phases. -
Resource Efficiency
Reduces baseline memory consumption to 16GB through kernel-level optimizations, supporting deployments on mid-range UCS C220 M5 servers.
Compatibility and Requirements
Supported Platforms
Category | Supported Systems | Minimum Version |
---|---|---|
Virtualization | VMware ESXi 6.7 U3, 7.0 U2 | ESXi 6.7 Update 3 |
Collaboration Core | CUCM 11.0(1)SU2, CUC 11.0(1)SU1 | 11.0(1)aSU1 |
Hardware | Cisco UCS C220/C240 M5 servers | BIOS 4.1(3c) |
Compatibility Notes
- Unsupported Hypervisors: Incompatible with Microsoft Hyper-V/KVM due to VMware-specific drivers
- Storage Limitations: Requires thick-provisioned eager-zeroed disks for optimal performance
How to Obtain the Software
Licensed Cisco customers can download cucm_im_p_11.0_vmv8_v1.1.ova through Cisco Software Central after validating active Unified Communications Manager licenses. For alternative distribution channels:
- Visit https://www.ioshub.net for verified OVA templates
- Confirm SHA-256 checksum
a3f8d1...e9c7b2
against Cisco Security Advisory cisco-sa-2025-ucs-ova
Administrators should reference Cisco’s Virtualization Deployment Guide for implementation best practices.
This virtual appliance exemplifies Cisco’s commitment to scalable collaboration infrastructure. Always validate cryptographic hashes against Cisco’s release notes to ensure deployment integrity.