Create Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller VM instance on ESXi

Updated: July 7, 2026

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Configure a Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller VM instance on a server running VMware vSphere ESXi Hypervisor. This task enables you to start the Cisco SD-WAN Controller and connect to its console for further configuration.

To start the Cisco SD-WAN Controller, you must create a virtual machine (VM) instance for it on a server that is running hypervisor software. This task describes how to create a VM on a server running the VMware vSphere ESXi Hypervisor software.

You can also create the VM on a server running the Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) Hypervisor software.
From Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Control Components Release 20.14.1, you can enable disk encryption on the hypervisor.

This task is relevant when deploying a Cisco SD-WAN Controller VM instance for Cisco SD-WAN environments using VMware vSphere ESXi Hypervisor.

If you are using the VMware vCenter Server to create the Cisco SD-WAN Controller VM instance, follow the same procedure. Note, however, that the vCenter Server pages look different than the vSphere Client pages shown in the procedure.

For server requirements, see Server Hardware Recommendations.

Before you begin

Ensure you have access to a server running VMware vSphere ESXi Hypervisor and have downloaded the vsmart.ova file from Cisco.

Verify that your server meets the hardware requirements for deploying the VM instance.

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

Procedure

	1.	Launch the vSphere Client and create a Cisco SD-WAN Controller VM instance.
	2.	Add a vNIC for the management interface.
	3.	Start the Cisco SD-WAN Controller VM instance and connect to the console.

After completing these steps, the Cisco SD-WAN Controller VM instance is created and started on ESXi. You can connect to its console and proceed with further configuration.

What to do next

Refer to the configuration guide for Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller for next steps.

See Configure Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller.

Launch vSphere Client and create a Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller VM instance

Follow these steps to launch the vSphere Client and create a Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller 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 vsmart.ova file that you downloaded from Cisco. Then click Next.
	4.	Click Next to verify OVF template details.
	5.	Enter a name for the deployed template and click Next. The figure below specifies a name for the Cisco SD-WAN Controller instance.
	6.	Click Next to accept the default format for the virtual disks.
	7.	Click Next to accept your destination network as the destination network for the deployed OVF template. In the figure below, CorpNet is the destination network.
	8.	In the Ready to Complete page, click Finish. The figure below shows the name for the Cisco SD-WAN Controller instance.

The system successfully creates the VM instance with the parameters you defined and displays the vSphere Client page with Getting Started selected. By default, this includes one vNIC, which is used for the tunnel interface.

Add a vNIC for the management interface

Follow these steps to add a vNIC for the management interface:

Procedure

	1.	In the left navigation bar of the vSphere Client, select the Cisco SD-WAN Manager VM instance you just created, and click Edit virtual machine settings.
	2.	In the Cisco SD-WAN Manager – Virtual Machine Properties page, click Add to add a new vNIC for the management interface. Then click OK.
	3.	Click Ethernet Adapter for the type of device you wish to add. Then click Next.
	4.	In the Adapter Type drop-down, select VMXNET3 for the vNIC to add. Then click Next.
	5.	In the Ready to Complete page, click Finish.
	6.	The Cisco SD-WAN Manager – Virtual Machine Properties page opens showing that the new vNIC is being added. Click OK to return to the vSphere Client page.

Start the Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller VM instance and connect to the console

Follow these steps to start the VM instance and connect to the console:

Procedure

	1.	In the left navigation bar of the vSphere Client, select the virtual machine instance you just created, and click Power on the virtual machine. The Cisco SD-WAN Controller virtual machine is powered on.
	2.	Select Console to connect to the Cisco SD-WAN Controller console.
	3.	At the login prompt, log in with the default username, which is admin , and the default password, which is admin .

What to do next

See Configure Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller for next steps.

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