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Why VMware vCenter Updates Now Require Tokens?
Starting April 23, 2025, VMware vCenter administrators will face a new hurdle—update tokens. Broadcom, the company behind VMware, is changing how updates are accessed for several products. Here’s what you need to know about this shift and how it impacts your workflow.
What’s Changing?
Previously, VMware products like vCenter Server and vSphere ESXi could download updates directly from Broadcom servers without extra steps. This process was simple and automated. However, Broadcom is introducing a new requirement: administrators will need to generate a download token from the Broadcom Support Portal to access updates.
Why the Change?
Broadcom claims this move is designed to individualize downloads for each customer. While this may enhance security or tracking, it adds complexity for administrators who now must manually obtain tokens before updating their systems.
Affected Products
The following VMware products will require download tokens starting April 23, 2025:
- VMware vCenter Server
- VMware Cloud Foundation
- VMware vSphere ESXi
- VMware SDDC Manager
- VMware vSAN
How to Generate a Download Token
To comply with the new policy, follow these steps:
- Use your credentials to log in to Broadcom Support Portal.
- Navigate to the section for authenticated downloads and create your token as outlined in Broadcom’s support article titled VCF Authenticated Downloads Configuration Update Instructions.
- Use the generated token when pulling updates for your VMware products.
Challenges Administrators May Face
This change could complicate update workflows for many users. Instead of relying on automated update processes, administrators must now actively manage tokens through the support portal—a potential time sink for teams managing multiple VMware installations.
By preparing ahead of time and familiarizing yourself with the token generation process, you can minimize disruptions to your system maintenance routine.