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Will You Miss Out on Vital VMware Updates? Act Fast Before the Update Token Lockdown!
Major Change: VMware ESX and vCenter Updates Now Require Download Tokens
Starting today, April 23, 2025, VMware by Broadcom is enforcing a significant change: updates for vCenter, ESX, and related products can only be downloaded and installed using unique update tokens. This marks the end of public, token-free update access for these products.
What’s Changing?
Public download URLs are now disabled. You can no longer fetch updates directly from the usual VMware repositories without authentication.
A unique download token is now mandatory. This token is tied to your organization’s Broadcom SiteID and must be generated via the Broadcom Support Portal.
Impacted Products:
- VMware vCenter Server 7.x and 8.x
- VMware vSphere ESXi 7.x and 8.x
- SDDC Manager 4.5.x and 5.x
- vSAN File Services
- Offline Bundle Transfer Utility (OBTU), Async Patch Tool, Update Manager Download Service (UMDS)
Why Is This Happening?
Broadcom’s new policy aims to:
- Enhance security by ensuring only entitled customers access updates.
- Align with modern industry standards for software distribution.
- Tie downloads directly to customer entitlements using SiteID.
What Do You Need to Do?
If you still need to update without a token, today is your last chance. After today, you must follow these steps:
- Log in to the Broadcom Support Portal.
- Generate your organization’s unique download token as described in the Broadcom support documentation.
- Update all in-product URLs and scripts to use the new tokenized download links. This applies to vCenter Lifecycle Manager, custom automation scripts, and any manual update processes.
- Share this information with your IT team to ensure uninterrupted access to updates and patches.
Key Points to Remember
- No more free or anonymous updates: All downloads are now customer-specific and require authentication.
- Custom scripts and automation must be updated: Any process that pulls updates from VMware must be revised to include the token.
- Failure to act will result in update failures: Systems not updated to use the new tokenized URLs will be unable to download or install patches after today.
Positive Outlook
While this change may feel restrictive, it also brings benefits:
- Improved security by preventing unauthorized downloads.
- Better compliance with licensing and support agreements.
- Streamlined update management through centralized control.
Don’t let this critical change catch you off guard—secure your update token now to maintain access to essential VMware updates and ensure your infrastructure remains protected and compliant.