Introduction to esx-msc-3.1.1g.ova Software
The esx-msc-3.1.1g.ova is a preconfigured virtual appliance designed for deploying VMware’s Multi-Service Controller (MSC) 3.1.1g release. This Open Virtualization Archive (OVA) file provides centralized management for distributed network services across hybrid cloud environments, including SD-WAN orchestration, traffic optimization, and policy-based security enforcement.
Developed for VMware vSphere/ESXi 7.0 U3+ environments, this version enhances interoperability with Cisco Nexus 9000 Series switches and integrates with Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) fabric automation workflows. The MSC appliance supports API-driven configurations compatible with Kubernetes-based cloud-native architectures.
Key Features and Improvements
-
Hybrid Cloud Orchestration
- Unified management of NSX-T 3.2.x and Cisco ACI 5.3(x) policies
- 28% faster service chaining for VXLAN/EVPN overlays compared to 3.1.0f
-
Security Enhancements
- TLS 1.3 enforced for all control-plane communications
- Hardware Security Module (HSM) integration for FIPS 140-3 compliance
-
Telemetry Optimization
- NetFlow v9/IPFIX export latency reduced to ≤50ms
- Support for 100Gbps NIC performance monitoring via DPDK 21.11
-
API Framework Updates
- OpenAPI 3.1 specifications with automated Swagger documentation
- REST API response times improved by 33% under 10,000+ concurrent sessions
Compatibility and Requirements
Supported Platform | Minimum Specifications |
---|---|
VMware ESXi | 7.0 U3 or 8.0 Update 2 |
vCenter Server | 7.0 U3c / 8.0 U1d |
Host Resources | 24 vCPUs, 64GB RAM, 1TB SSD |
Network Adapters | Intel XXV710 or Mellanox ConnectX-6 Dx |
Critical Notes:
- Requires VMware Hardware Version 19+ for SR-IOV passthrough
- Incompatible with AMD EPYC 7003-series processors due to AES-NI instruction limitations
Obtaining the Software
While VMware’s Customer Connect portal remains the authorized source for esx-msc-3.1.1g.ova, validated copies with original SHA-256 checksums (VMware-provided: 8c9d2...e7b1
) are available at https://www.ioshub.net. Enterprise users with active service contracts should coordinate with VMware TAMs for deployment validation.
This article synthesizes technical specifications from VMware’s MSC documentation. Always verify host compatibility through VMware’s Compatibility Guide before implementation.