Pre-loaded drivers for Smart Array controllers (hpsa/nhpsa).
Integrated support for Agentless Management Service (AMS). Where to Download ESXi 6.5 U3 HPE Custom ISO download hpe custom image for esxi 6.5 u3
Installing a standard VMware ISO on HPE hardware often results in "No Network Adapters" errors or unrecognized RAID volumes. The HPE custom image solves this by including: Pre-loaded drivers for Smart Array controllers (hpsa/nhpsa)
For older Gen9 servers, you can use the built-in Intelligent Provisioning (F10 at boot), though it may point to older versions by default. The HPE custom image solves this by including:
The download location has shifted over the years due to the Broadcom acquisition of VMware. Currently, there are two primary methods to acquire the image. 1. The VMware/Broadcom Support Portal
Go to and select VMware Cloud Foundation (or vSphere). Filter for Version 6.5 . Look for the Custom ISOs tab.
Before downloading, ensure the build version matches your patching requirements. The final major release for this branch is typically: