To prevent operational headaches, here is a quick compatibility reference when you for a specific version:
: For communication with the cluster nodes. These can be on the same VLAN for lab setups, but should be separated in production. Power On & Configure
What the witness does (and why it matters) download vsan witness appliance
vSAN Witness Appliance is a virtual ESXi host used in Stretched Cluster or 2-node configurations to maintain a quorum without requiring a physical third host. Since the VMware transition to Broadcom, all downloads have moved to the Broadcom Support Portal Broadcom support portal How to Download the vSAN Witness Appliance
As a crucial component of VMware's vSAN (Virtual SAN) architecture, the vSAN Witness Appliance plays a vital role in ensuring data availability and consistency across a vSAN cluster. In this article, we will walk you through the process of downloading and deploying the vSAN Witness Appliance, as well as provide an in-depth understanding of its functionality and importance in a vSAN environment. To prevent operational headaches, here is a quick
To download the vSAN Witness Appliance, users must navigate the (which recently replaced MyVMware). The process generally involves:
: Can be managed and patched similarly to a standard ESXi host. Since the VMware transition to Broadcom, all downloads
| Item | Requirement | |------|--------------| | | The Witness Appliance version must exactly match the vSAN version running on your primary and secondary sites. | | Deployment format | OVA (Open Virtual Appliance) | | vSAN License | Stretched Cluster license feature required | | Networking | Layer 2 or Layer 3 connectivity between Witness and both data sites | | Storage | The Witness Appliance requires a dedicated datastore (does not use vSAN storage) |
| Problem | Solution | |---------|----------| | on Customer Connect | Your account lacks a valid vSAN Stretched Cluster license. Contact your VMware reseller or account manager. | | Wrong version downloaded | Always expand the exact vSAN version you are running. Do not assume the latest version is backward compatible. | | Download slow or failing | Use a download manager. Alternatively, use the "Download via Backup URL" option provided on the product page. |
Before downloading and deploying the vSAN Witness Appliance, ensure that you meet the following prerequisites:
Go to and search for VMware vSphere or VMware vSAN .