Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Onboarding Guide, Releases 26.x and Later

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Create a Cisco SD-WAN manager VM instance on VMware ESXi

Updated: July 7, 2026

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Configure a Cisco SD-WAN Manager VM instance on a server running VMware vSphere ESXi Hypervisor. This task ensures that you can deploy and start the VM for Cisco SD-WAN Manager with the required resources and connectivity.

Follow these steps to create a Cisco SD-WAN Manager VM instance on ESXi:

Use this task when you need to set up Cisco SD-WAN Manager on an ESXi server. You can also use a server running the Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) hypervisor for deployment. Disk encryption can be enabled on the hypervisor starting from the specified release.

For server requirements, see Server Hardware Recommendations.

From Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Control Components Release 20.14.1, you can enable disk encryption on the hypervisor.

Procedure

1.

Start the vSphere Client and create a Cisco SD-WAN Manager VM instance.
2.

Create a new virtual disk with a volume of at least 100 GB for the Cisco SD-WAN Manager database.
3.

Add additional vNICs as required.
4.

Start the Cisco SD-WAN Manager VM instance and connect to the Cisco SD-WAN Manager console.
5.

To create a Cisco SD-WAN Manager cluster, repeat Steps 1 through 4 to create a VM for each Cisco SD-WAN Manager instance.
6.

If you are using the VMware vCenter Server to create the Cisco SD-WAN Manager VM instance, follow the same procedure.

Launch vSphere Client and Create Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager VM Instance

Procedure

1.

Launch the VMware vSphere Client application, and enter the IP address or name of the ESXi server, your username, and your password. Click Login to log in to the ESXi server.

The system displays the ESXi screen.
2.

Click File > Deploy OVF Template to deploy the virtual machine.

3.

In the Deploy OVF Template screen, enter the location to install and download the OVF package. This package is the vmanage.ova file that you downloaded from the Support page. Click Next .

4.

Click Next to verify OVF template details.

5.

Enter a name for the deployed template and click Next .

6.

Click Next to accept the default format for the virtual disks.

7.

From the Destination Networks drop-down list, select the destination network for the deployed OVF template, and click Next .

8.

In the Ready to Complete screen, click Finish to complete deployment of the Cisco SD-WAN Manager VM instance.

​The system has successfully created the VM instance with the parameters you just defined and displays the vSphere Client screen with the Getting Started tab selected. By default, this includes one vNIC. This vNIC is used for the tunnel interface.

Create a new virtual disk

Follow these steps to create a new virtual disk with at least 100 GB for the Cisco SD-WAN Manager database:

Procedure

1.

Select the Cisco SD-WAN Manager VM instance in the vSphere Client and click Edit virtual machine settings.
2.

Click Add to add a new virtual disk, then click OK in the Virtual Machine Properties screen.
3.

Select Hard Disk as the device type to add, then click Next in the Add Hardware screen.
4.

Select Create a new virtual disk in the Select a Disk screen, then click Next.
5.

Specify the disk capacity for the Cisco SD-WAN Manager database as 100 GB in the Create a Disk screen, then click Next.
6.

Choose IDE (or SCSI for releases starting Cisco vManage Release 20.3.1) as the virtual storage device in the Advanced Options screen, then click Next.

If you are using IDE for releases older than Cisco vManage Release 20.3.1, the virtual store device must be IDE.
7.

Click Finish in the Ready to Complete screen to complete creating the new virtual disk with a capacity of 100 GB.

The system displays the vSphere Client screen with Getting Started selected, indicating the new virtual disk has been created successfully.

Add additional vnics

Follow these steps to add additional vNICs for management and Message Bus interfaces:

Procedure

1.

Select the Cisco SD-WAN Manager VM instance in the vSphere Client and click Edit virtual machine settings.
2.

On the Virtual Machine Properties screen, click Add to add a new vNIC for the management interface, then click OK.
3.

Choose Ethernet Adapter as the device type to add, then click Next.
4.

In the Adapter Type drop-down, select VMXNET3 for the vNIC, then click Next.
5.

On the Ready to Complete screen, click Finish.
6.

When the Virtual Machine Properties screen opens showing the new vNIC is being added, click OK to return to the vSphere Client screen.
7.

If the Cisco SD-WAN Manager instance is part of a cluster, repeat Steps 2 through 6 to create a third vNIC for the Message Bus.

Connect a VM instance to the Cisco SD-WAN manager console

Follow these steps to connect a VM instance to the Cisco SD-WAN Manager console:

Procedure

1.

In the left navigation bar of the vSphere Client, select the Cisco SD-WAN Manager VM instance that you just created, and click Power on the virtual machine.

The Cisco SD-WAN Manager virtual machine is powered on.
2.

Select the Console tab to connect to the Cisco SD-WAN Manager console.

The Cisco SD-WAN Manager console is displayed. Log in to Cisco SD-WAN Manager.
3.

Select the storage device to use.
4.

Select hdc, which is the new partition you added for the Cisco SD-WAN Manager database.
5.

Confirm that you want to format the new partition, hdc.

The system then reboots and displays the Cisco SD-WAN Manager instance.
6.

Configure an IP address on the Cisco SD-WAN Manager instance to enable web browser access.

  1. Log in to Cisco SD-WAN Manager.

  2. In the management VPN, VPN 512, configure an IP address on interface eth0. Specify an IP address that is reachable on your network. If necessary, add a default route:

    # config
(config)# vpn 512
(config)# ip route prefix/length next-hop-ip-address
(config-vpn-512)# interface eth0
(config-interface-eth0)# ip address ip-address
(config-interface-eth0)# no shutdown
(config-interface-eth0)# commit and-quit
#
7.

Connect to the Cisco SD-WAN Manager instance using a web browser.

Example:

https:// ip-address :8443/
8.

Log in to the Cisco SD-WAN Manager instance.

The default username and password is admin/admin.