It is a "locked-down" host. You cannot run production virtual machines on it. Additionally, while it simplifies 2-node setups, it introduces a dependency on a third "witness site" that must have network connectivity to both data nodes. For 2-node or stretched clusters, it is a mandatory and highly effective
On the left-side menu, select "My Downloads" 1.2.2 .
To download the vSAN Witness Appliance, you must use the , which is the official repository for all VMware-related downloads following Broadcom's acquisition. The appliance is distributed as an OVA file , a pre-configured virtual machine running a "nested" version of ESXi designed specifically to act as a tie-breaker for 2-node or stretched vSAN clusters. How to Download the vSAN Witness Appliance download vsan witness appliance
Open your vSAN cluster configuration wizard tool.
Fits up to 10 virtual machines. Uses 2 CPUs and 8 GB RAM. It is a "locked-down" host
Used for host management, vSphere vMotion, and communicating with vCenter.
To download and set up the VMware vSAN Witness Appliance, you must use the Broadcom Support Portal, as VMware downloads have migrated there. For 2-node or stretched clusters, it is a
This guide covers everything you need to know about how to download the vSAN Witness Appliance from the Broadcom support portal, its requirements, and the deployment process in 2026. What is the vSAN Witness Appliance?