Create Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Validator VM instance on ESXi

Updated: July 7, 2026

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Configure a Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Validator VM instance on a server running VMware vSphere ESXi Hypervisor. This task enables you to prepare the virtual machine for use as a validator in your Cisco SD-WAN environment.

This task guides you to create a virtual machine instance for Cisco SD-WAN Validator on a server running VMware vSphere ESXi Hypervisor. The VM instance is required to start the validator and integrate it into your SD-WAN deployment.

Ensure the validator is available for network orchestration and control.

Use this task when you need to deploy a Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Validator VM instance on a server running ESXi. The procedure is also applicable for servers running KVM Hypervisor software, though the steps may differ.

Disk encryption can be enabled on the hypervisor if required. For server hardware information, see Server Hardware Recommendations.

If you are using VMware vCenter Server, follow the same procedure, but note that vCenter Server pages may look different than vSphere Client pages.

Before you begin

Before you begin, ensure you have access to a server running VMware vSphere ESXi Hypervisor or KVM Hypervisor software. Review server hardware recommendations and confirm that disk encryption is enabled if needed.

Refer to Server Hardware Recommendations for server requirements.
From Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Control Components Release 20.14.1, disk encryption can be enabled on the hypervisor.

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

Procedure

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

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

Follow these steps to launch the vSphere Client and create a Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Validator 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.
	2.	Click File > Deploy OVF Template to deploy the virtual machine.
	3.	In the Deploy OVF Template page, enter the location to install and download the OVF package. This package is the vedge.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 Validator instance.
	6.	Click Next to accept the default format for the virtual disks.
	7.	Click Next to accept your destination network name as the destination network for the deployed OVF template. For this instance, 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 Validator 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 management interface.

Add a vNIC for the tunnel interface

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

Procedure

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

What to do next

See Configure Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Validator for the next steps.

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