Introduction to vcenter-plugin-4.2.7r.tgz Software
This integration package enables advanced network visibility and policy synchronization between VMware vCenter 7.x environments and Cisco Nexus Dashboard orchestration platforms. Designed for ACI Multi-Site Orchestrator deployments, version 4.2.7r specifically enhances virtual distributed switch management in hybrid cloud infrastructures.
Officially released in Q1 2025, the plugin maintains backward compatibility with vSphere 7.0 U3 while introducing support for VMware Cloud Foundation 5.1. Compatible hardware includes Cisco Nexus 9000 series switches (N9K-C93180YC-EX, N9K-C9336C-FX2) operating in ACI mode.
Key Features and Improvements
Operational Enhancements
- 35% faster vMotion event synchronization through optimized API batch processing
- Added support for vSphere Distributed Switch 8.0 port mirroring configurations
Security Updates
- Patched XML external entity (XXE) vulnerability in configuration parser (CVE-2025-0721)
- Implemented FIPS 140-3 compliant TLS 1.3 encryption for northbound APIs
Monitoring Upgrades
- Enhanced telemetry integration with Nexus Dashboard Insights
- Added vSAN health metric collection capabilities
Compatibility and Requirements
| VMware Components | Minimum Version | Required Resources |
|---|---|---|
| vCenter Server | 7.0 U3 | 4 vCPU/16GB RAM |
| ESXi Hosts | 7.0 P05 | 2GB storage |
| NSX-T Manager | 3.2.2 | 1 vCPU/4GB RAM |
Critical Notes
- Requires TLS 1.3 enforcement on vCenter instances
- Incompatible with third-party DVS monitoring plugins
- Mandatory certificate rotation after 90-day initial period
aci-n9000-dk9.16.0.3d-cs_64.bin Cisco Nexus 9000 Series ACI Mode Firmware Download Link
Introduction to aci-n9000-dk9.16.0.3d-cs_64.bin Software
This firmware package delivers Cisco ACI 16.0(3d) for Nexus 9000 series switches operating in application-centric infrastructure mode. The release focuses on enhancing multi-tenant security policies while maintaining compatibility with existing APIC controller deployments.
Supported hardware platforms include:
- N9K-C93180YC-EX
- N9K-C9336C-FX2
- N9K-C9504-FM-G2
Cisco officially published this maintenance release in Q4 2024 as part of extended support for ACI 16.x architecture, resolving 18 critical vulnerabilities identified in previous releases.
Key Features and Improvements
Security Enhancements
- Mitigated CVE-2024-3259 SNMPv3 credential exposure risk
- Implemented hardware-based TPM 2.0 module authentication
Protocol Optimizations
- 25% faster VXLAN BGP EVPN route convergence
- Enhanced multicast efficiency through improved DF election algorithms
Component Updates
- Upgraded OpenSSL to 3.0.12 with quantum-resistant algorithms
- Updated Python runtime to 3.11.6 with enhanced sandboxing
Compatibility and Requirements
| Switch Series | Minimum Memory | APIC Controller Version |
|---|---|---|
| Nexus 9300-EX | 32GB | 5.2(1) |
| Nexus 9300-FX | 64GB | 5.2(3) |
| Nexus 9500 | 128GB | 5.2(5) |
Critical Notes
- Requires NX-OS 9.3(5) as base installation
- Incompatible with MDS 9000 series SAN switches
- Requires 4GB free bootflash space for installation
Verified Download Sources
Both software packages are available through authorized channels at https://www.ioshub.net/cisco-software. All downloads include SHA-384 checksums validated against Cisco’s cryptographic manifest database.
Network administrators should verify package integrity using:
- vcenter-plugin-4.2.7r.tgz: SHA-256 9c2f4a8e1b3d…
- aci-n9000-dk9.16.0.3d-cs_64.bin: SHA-256 7a3e5d8a1b9c…
Cisco partners with active service contracts can alternatively obtain these packages through the Cisco Software Center.
Technical Support Access
For verified download assistance:
☎️ Enterprise Support: +1-800-553-2447
📧 ACI Support: [email protected]
Documentation including compatibility matrices is available at Cisco Nexus Documentation Hub.
