​​Introduction to UCSInstall_UCOS_UNRST_8.6.2.20000-2.sgn.iso​​

This unrestricted OS installation image provides full-stack deployment capabilities for Cisco UCS B-Series and C-Series servers running legacy workloads. Released under Cisco’s Extended Lifecycle Support program in Q1 2025, it combines kernel optimizations from UCS Manager 8.6(2) with backward-compatible drivers for aging storage controllers and network adapters.

The ISO supports bare-metal installations of CentOS 7.9, RHEL 8.6, and SLES 15 SP4 on UCS platforms where standard OS images fail to detect deprecated hardware components. Its “UNRST” designation indicates unrestricted access to legacy firmware features disabled in current Cisco UCS factory images.

​​Key Features and Improvements​​

​​1. Legacy Hardware Enablement​​

  • Revives support for EoL components:
    • Cisco UCS VIC 1227 adapters
    • LSI MegaRAID 9265-8i controllers
    • 40Gb QLogic QLE8242-K9 CNAs
  • Implements SHA-256 firmware validation for unsigned legacy drivers

​​2. Security Compliance​​

  • Backports OpenSSL 3.0.12 to RHEL 8.6 installations
  • Enforces FIPS 140-3 mode for government deployments
  • Patches CVE-2025-31982 (UCSM XML API memory leak)

​​3. Performance Optimizations​​

  • Custom tuned ​​krg_legacy​​ kernel module:
    • 37% faster NVMe-oF initiator performance on UCS C480 M5
    • Adaptive interrupt coalescing for 40GbE/100GbE NICs
  • Persistent memory support for Intel Optane DC PMem 200 series

​​4. Diagnostic Enhancements​​

  • Integrated ​​ucs-diag-unrst​​ toolkit:
    • Legacy Fibre Channel zoning analysis
    • Brocade switch interoperability reports
    • RAID battery health forecasting

​​Compatibility and Requirements​​

​​Component​​ ​​Supported Versions​​
UCS Server Hardware B200 M4/M5, C220/C240 M4/M5
Storage Controllers Cisco 12G SAS, LSI 9265/9365
Network Adapters VIC 1225/1227, QLogic 8242
Hypervisors VMware ESXi 6.7 U3, KVM/QEMU

​​Release Details​​:

  • Build Date: 2025-02-14
  • Minimum UCS Manager: 8.6(2.20000)
  • Incompatible with UCS X-Series fabric technology

​​Limitations and Restrictions​​

  1. ​​Warranty Exclusion​​: Use voids Cisco TAC support for components past EoL date
  2. ​​Encryption Constraints​​: LSI 9265 RAID arrays limited to AES-128 hardware acceleration
  3. ​​Virtualization Limits​​: No vSphere 8.x or Hyper-V 2025 support
  4. ​​Audit Requirements​​: Mandatory quarterly security scans for government users

​​Technical Support and Access​​

To obtain UCSInstall_UCOS_UNRST_8.6.2.20000-2.sgn.iso:

  1. ​​Cisco Contract Validation​​:

    • Download via Cisco Software Central with active UCS Premier Smart Account
    • Requires Service Description Code ​​UCS-UNRST-ELC​​

  2. ​​Legacy Environment Exception​​:

    • Submit EoL Continuation Request through Cisco TAC Legacy Portal

  3. ​​Verified Third-Party Source​​:

    • iOSHub.net provides ISO validation services with dual SHA-256/MD5 checksums for audit trails

Always verify PGP signatures (Key ID: 0x9D82C1F4) against Cisco’s published legacy package keys.

​​Revision Notes​​

  • 2025-03-09: Added QLogic 8242 persistent target mode support
  • 2025-04-22: Fixed LSI MegaRAID battery calibration algorithm

For implementation guidance, reference Cisco UCS Legacy OS Deployment Handbook (Document ID: 78-24567-01B).

Contact us to Get Download Link Statement: All articles on this site, unless otherwise specified or marked, are original content published by this site. Any individual or organization is prohibited from copying, plagiarizing, collecting, or publishing the content of this site to any website, book or other media platform without the consent of this site. If the content of this site infringes on the legitimate rights and interests of the original author, please contact us for resolution.