diff --git a/builder/vmware/step_download_iso.go b/builder/vmware/step_download_iso.go
index 39fa728c9..4a3555f4d 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/step_download_iso.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/step_download_iso.go
@@ -1,13 +1,21 @@
 package vmware
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"github.com/mitchellh/multistep"
+	"github.com/mitchellh/packer/packer"
+	"io"
 	"log"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/url"
+	"os"
+	"time"
 )
 
 // This step downloads the ISO specified.
 //
 // Uses:
+//   cache packer.Cache
 //   config *config
 //   ui     packer.Ui
 //
@@ -15,14 +23,100 @@ import (
 //   iso_path string
 type stepDownloadISO struct{}
 
-func (stepDownloadISO) Run(state map[string]interface{}) multistep.StepAction {
+func (s stepDownloadISO) Run(state map[string]interface{}) multistep.StepAction {
+	cache := state["cache"].(packer.Cache)
 	config := state["config"].(*config)
+	ui := state["ui"].(packer.Ui)
 
 	log.Printf("Acquiring lock to download the ISO.")
+	cachePath := cache.Lock(config.ISOUrl)
+	defer cache.Unlock(config.ISOUrl)
 
-	state["iso_path"] = config.ISOUrl
+	url, err := url.Parse(config.ISOUrl)
+	if err != nil {
+		ui.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Error parsing iso_url: %s", err))
+		return multistep.ActionHalt
+	}
+
+	// Start the download in a goroutine so that we cancel it and such.
+	var progress uint
+	downloadComplete := make(chan bool, 1)
+	go func() {
+		ui.Say("Copying or downloading ISO. Progress will be shown periodically.")
+		cachePath, err = s.downloadUrl(cachePath, url, &progress)
+		downloadComplete <- true
+	}()
+
+	progressTimer := time.NewTicker(15 * time.Second)
+	defer progressTimer.Stop()
+
+DownloadWaitLoop:
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-downloadComplete:
+			log.Println("Download of ISO completed.")
+			break DownloadWaitLoop
+		case <-progressTimer.C:
+			ui.Say(fmt.Sprintf("Download progress: %d%%", progress))
+		case <-time.After(1 * time.Second):
+			if _, ok := state[multistep.StateCancelled]; ok {
+				ui.Say("Interrupt received. Cancelling download...")
+				return multistep.ActionHalt
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if err != nil {
+		ui.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Error downloading ISO: %s", err))
+		return multistep.ActionHalt
+	}
+
+	log.Printf("Path to ISO on disk: %s", cachePath)
+	state["iso_path"] = cachePath
 
 	return multistep.ActionContinue
 }
 
 func (stepDownloadISO) Cleanup(map[string]interface{}) {}
+
+func (stepDownloadISO) downloadUrl(path string, url *url.URL, progress *uint) (string, error) {
+	if url.Scheme == "file" {
+		// If it is just a file URL, then we already have the ISO
+		return path, nil
+	}
+
+	// Otherwise, it is an HTTP URL, and we must download it.
+	f, err := os.Create(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	defer f.Close()
+
+	log.Printf("Beginning download of ISO: %s", url.String())
+	resp, err := http.Get(url.String())
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
+	var buffer [4096]byte
+	var totalRead int64
+	for {
+		n, err := resp.Body.Read(buffer[:])
+		if err != nil && err != io.EOF {
+			return "", err
+		}
+
+		totalRead += int64(n)
+		*progress = uint((float64(totalRead) / float64(resp.ContentLength)) * 100)
+
+		if _, werr := f.Write(buffer[:n]); werr != nil {
+			return "", werr
+		}
+
+		if err == io.EOF {
+			break
+		}
+	}
+
+	return path, nil
+}