How to Download the HPE Custom Image for ESXi 6.5 U3 The HPE customized ESXi image is a purpose-built version of the VMware hypervisor that includes critical drivers and management tools specifically for HPE ProLiant and Synergy hardware. Primary Download Methods
Following Broadcom's acquisition of VMware, the central hub for downloading these images has transitioned to the Broadcom Support Portal.
Broadcom Support Portal: Access the VMware Cloud Foundation or vSphere section. Use the search function to locate "ESXi 6.5 Update 3" and look for the Custom ISOs tab.
HPE Support Center: While many downloads point back to Broadcom, you can find direct documentation and specific "Gen9 Plus" or "Synergy" variants on the HPE Support Center by searching for your specific server model.
HPE Software Depot: For older versions or archived products, check the HPE Software Depot, which may require an HPE Passport account with active entitlements. Key Image Variants for 6.5 U3
Depending on your hardware generation, you must select the correct image:
Gen9 & Gen10 Servers: Use the standard HPE Custom Image for ESXi 6.5 U3 (often May 2021 or October 2021 releases).
Pre-Gen9 Servers: For older hardware like Gen8 or G7, ensure you download the specific "Pre-Gen9" custom image to maintain driver compatibility for older controllers.
Synergy Servers: These require a specialized Synergy Custom Image that aligns with specific Service Packs for ProLiant (SPP). What is Included?
These custom images include essential tools that the standard VMware ISO lacks: VMware ESXi Images for HPE Servers | HPE EUROPE
You can download the HPE Custom Image for VMware ESXi 6.5 Update 3 through the Broadcom Support Portal (which now hosts VMware downloads) or the HPE Support Center Key Features & Contents
The HPE Custom Image is specifically designed to enable hardware-specific management and monitoring that the standard VMware image lacks. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Integrated Management Tools : Includes utilities like (iLO configuration), (Smart Storage Administrator), and for BIOS/platform settings. Driver Support
: Contains VMware IOVP certified device drivers for HPE-specific network and storage controllers. : Includes the Integrated Smart Update Tool
, which allows for remote firmware and driver deployment via HPE OneView and iLO. Monitoring Agents : Comes pre-packaged with HPE CIM Providers HPE iLO Drivers Agentless Management Services (AMS) to report server health to Insight Management software. vSAN Readiness : For Gen9 servers, the image includes drivers (like the driver) specifically certified for vSAN configurations. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Important Compatibility Notes Download latest ISOs and patches for vSphere ESXi
Downloading the HPE Custom Image for VMware ESXi 6.5 Update 3
requires navigating the Broadcom Support Portal, which replaced the old VMware Customer Connect site. This custom image is essential for HPE ProLiant and Synergy servers, as it includes specific drivers for storage and network controllers that the base VMware image lacks. Hewlett Packard Enterprise How to Download the HPE Custom Image Follow these steps to locate the 6.5 U3 image on the Broadcom Support Portal Hewlett Packard Enterprise
: Sign in with your registered credentials. Note that your account must have an active entitlement to view and download VMware products. Select Product : From the dropdown menu next to your username, select VMware Cloud Foundation Go to Downloads My Downloads on the left-hand navigation bar and search for VMware vSphere in the search box. Choose Version
: Click on the major version (e.g., vSphere 6.5) that matches your entitlement. Access Custom ISOs : Click the Custom ISOs tab. Under the OEM Customized Install CDs section, look for the "HPE Custom Image for ESXi 6.5U3". Verify & Download : Confirm the build identifier (e.g., oem-build-650.U3.10.4.5 for the Aug 2019 release) and click the download icon. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Key Considerations for ESXi 6.5 U3 VMware ESXi End of Life - Lansweeper 26 Aug 2025 —
Once upon a time, in the humid, low-humming heart of a corporate data center, there lived a ProLiant DL380 Gen10 named Unit 42.
Unit 42 was a workhorse, but he was feeling sluggish. His kernel was cluttered, and his drivers were ancient. He dreamed of the stability and grace of ESXi 6.5 Update 3, the "Golden Build" of his generation.
His guardian, a weary sysadmin named Elias, sat in the glow of a dual-monitor setup at 2:00 AM. Elias knew he couldn't just use a generic installer. To truly unlock Unit 42’s potential—to see the temperatures of his drives and the true speed of his Smart Array controllers—he needed the HPE Custom Image.
Elias navigated the labyrinth of the MyHPE Software Center. He bypassed the flashy, bloated new versions, searching for the specific ISO that contained the sacred VIBs (vSphere Installation Bundles) tailored for Hewlett Packard hardware.
Finally, he found it: VMware-ESXi-6.5.0-Update3-14990825-HPE-Gen9plus-650.U3.10.5.5.5-Jan2020.iso.
With a click, the download began. A blue progress bar crawled across the screen, a digital bridge being built between the clouds and the rack. When the download finished, Elias flashed the image to a thumb drive and walked into the cold aisle.
As the silver USB drive slid into Unit 42’s front port, the server’s fans let out a soft, anticipatory whine. The installation was seamless. No "Missing Driver" errors, no purple screens of death. When the reboot finished, Unit 42 didn't just boot; he soared. His sensors were calibrated, his management agents were reporting in perfect harmony, and for the first time in years, his health LED glowed a steady, tranquil green.
Elias leaned back, sipped his cold coffee, and watched the dashboard. The custom image had brought peace to the rack.
/esxi/650/U1, U2, U3, etc.