Loading

×Sorry to interrupt
CSS Error

Refresh

Cookie Preference Center

General Information on cookies

When you visit our website, we use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience. This information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalized web experience. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies by clicking on the different category headings to find out more and change your settings. However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on the site and the services we are able to offer. Further information can be found in our

Cookie Policy.

Strictly Necessary

Strictly Necessary

Always Active

Strictly Necessary

Strictly necessary cookies are always enabled since they are essential for our website to function. They enable core functionality such as security, network management, and website accessibility. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but this may affect how the website functions. For more information please visit www.aboutcookies.org or www.allaboutcookies.org.

Cookie Details‎

Performance

Performance

Performance

Performance cookies are used to analyze the user experience to improve our website by collecting and reporting information on how you use it. They allow us to know which pages are the most and least popular, see how visitors move around the site, optimize our website and make it easier to navigate.

Cookie Details‎

Please confirm your settings by refreshing the page.

Functional

Functional

Functional

Functional cookies help us keep track of your past browsing choices so we can improve usability and customize your experience. These cookies enable the website to remember your preferred settings, language preferences, location and other customizable elements such as font or text size. If you do not allow these cookies, then some or all of these services may not function properly.

Cookie Details‎

Advertising

Advertising

Advertising

Advertising cookies are used to send you relevant advertising and promotional information. They may be set through our site by third parties to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertisements on other sites. These cookies do not directly store personal information, but their function is based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device.

Cookie Details‎

Advertising Cookies

Consent Leg.Interest

Select All Vendors

Select All Vendors

Select All Hosts

Select All

Clear Filters

Information storage and access

Apply

Confirm My Choices Reject All Allow All

My Subscriptions

Loading

Knowledge Base

Using Antivirus and Malware Detection software in VMware ESXi (1036544)

Last Updated: 2/25/2020Categories: InformationalTotal Views: 90320Language:
JapaneseEnglish

60 like this article

Subscribe to get an email
newsletter with new updates

60 people found this helpful Please provide article feedback:

Purpose

This article provides information on usage of Antivirus and Malware Detection software in VMware ESX/ESXi

Resolution

VMware uses a combination of on-host security (such as firewalls, encryption, and disablement of unnecessary services) and best practices outlined in the VMware Security Hardening Guides to protect ESX/ESXi management interfaces and the underlying hypervisor. Additionally, to further protect these interfaces, network based Intrusion Detection and Prevention (IDS/IPS) systems can be deployed on the ESX/ESXi host's SECURED network.

Antivirus and Malware Detection are needed on General Purpose (GP) computing environments, to mitigate risks incurred when a user or a process loads arbitrary executables from indeterminate sources. These risks are typical to GP computing environments, where users can execute code with minimal policy.

ESX is not a GP computing environment - but incorporates a semi-privileged GP environment, the Linux-based Console Operating System (COS). Antivirus and Malware Detection services are supported in this environment subject to the Third Party Software Support Policy. However, VMware does not recommend the usage of Third Party Software in the COS (as stated in the Support Policy), but recommends that best practices be employed to secure the ESX COS network interface.

ESXi is neither a GP environment, nor does it utilize a COS. ESXi provides for console functionality (for initial configuration, troubleshooting, and Technical Support) via the Direct Connect User Interface (DCUI) and Tech Support Mode. These strongly controlled interfaces provide GP-like console functionality augmented for security and trust. All binaries executed in ESXi are signed, keyed, or validated by strong controls. There is no facility to interpret code at runtime and the compiled modules are subject to both the controls for execution and a default-deny policy (for unsigned code), integral to the kernel.

Based on Regulatory Compliance, VMware believes that the customers should categorize ESX/ESXi hypervisors as they would for other network based appliances and treat them accordingly. By following the Best Practices outlined in the vSphere hardening guides, you can be reasonably assured of the security and integrity of the ESXi host's management interfaces. As VMware transitions from ESX to ESXi (and away from the general purpose OS running the COS), the need to run Antivirus/Anti Malware solutions to protect the hypervisor is even further diminished.

For more information on the transition from ESX to ESXi, see the VMware ESXi and ESX Info Center.

Related Information

vSphere Security for ESXi 5.0 and vCenter Server 5.0.
VMware ESX/ESXi でアンチウイルスおよびマルウェア検知ソフトウェアを使用する

Detectable by VMware SkylineTM

Actions

Copy

link to clipboard
copied!

Print

Language:
JapaneseEnglish

Attachments

Additional Resources

KB
•
End Of General Availability of the Free vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi 7.x and 8.x) (2107518)

KB
•
Download and Install VMware Fusion (2014097)

Results 1-2 of 2

Ask The Community

Get answers quickly from VMware experts in the community

Post Subject

CONTINUE IN COMMUNITIES

Related Products:

VMware vSphere ESXi

Related Versions:

VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.0

VMware vSphere ESXi 6.7

VMware vSphere ESXi 6.5

VMware vSphere ESXi 6.0

Take Our Survey

Support Assistant