Enable EVC when virtual center is also running as virtual machine

[Wajeeh]

Dear All,

I need assistance for below, current setup:

two DL 380p gen8 processor type Xeon CPU E5-2650 (8 core in a processor) (running vsphere 5.5 U2 and are in a cluster)

1 virtual center is running as a VM

new coming hardware is one DL 380 Gen 10 processor type Xeon 5118 (2.3Ghz 12 core in a processor)

I need to add this to existing cluster and migrate the virtual machines to it, but with out enable EVC this can not be done. so which EVC mode needs to be selected for above case of servers? and also do I need to turn off every thing to enable EVC on current cluster of two DL 380 Gen8?

Let me know if any further details are required before replying to my question.

Regards,

[vijayrana968]

You need to enable EVC mode with Intel® Merom Generation.

However, I would recommend to check and confirm what features will be available in this mode.

Check EVC Compatibility : VMware Compatibility Guide - cpu

How to check guide : VMware EVC Mode Explained

Intel® Merom Generation : VMware Compatibility Guide - cpu

[bluefirestorm · Accepted solution]

You need to enable EVC mode with Intel® Merom Generation.

Don't think Merom is the correct EVC mode.

The E5-26xx CPU series on the Gen 8 is Sandy Bridge.

Gen 10 would have a newer CPU generation; this would be Xeon Gold 5118 series which is Skylake.

https://ark.intel.com/products/120473/Intel-Xeon-Gold-5118-Processor-16_5M-Cache-2_30-GHz

Merom CPU generation is too old.

At the minimum Sandy Bridge is the EVC mode in this scenario.

[bluefirestorm]

DL380 Gen10 does not officially support ESXi 5.5. At the minimum is ESXi 6.0 U3.

https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/detail.php?deviceCategory=server&productid=42838

You run the risk of either

1. Not having proper VIBs and drivers for the server hardware components
2. Not having the CPU capabilities recognised correctly (although this might be moot with the EVC mode set to Sandy Bridge)
3. Not able to get proper support from HPE/VMware in the event of problems/issues/PSODs etc
4. Or any or all of the above.

[vijayrana968]

I chose both both CPUs in compatibility matrix and it’s showing merom.

[bluefirestorm]

Scroll down and you should see "Intel Xeon Gold 6100/5100, Silver 4100, Bronze 3100 (Skylake-SP) Series".

The older Xeon 51xx CPUs (without the Gold, Silver, Bronze monickers) were launched over 10 years ago.

https://ark.intel.com/products/codename/22796/Woodcrest

[vijayrana968]

Got it, thanks for clarification.

[Wajeeh]

bluefirestorm​ thank you for clarifying the base line as sandy bridge here. But your next detail is now a problem for me, what you advise now because my current hosts which are DL 380p Gen8 with Xeon E5-2650 can go upto Esxi 6.5 U2 as I have checked the compatibility matrix on HP website but currently they are on 5.5 U2.

Strange that 5.5 U2 not listed for DL 380 Gen10 Xeon 5118, now what is the possible way to add those to existing cluster?

I am using essential plus kit

[bluefirestorm]

ESXi 5.5 became available in Sept 2013 and will be out of general support by Sept this year.

https://www.vmware.com/content/dam/digitalmarketing/vmware/en/pdf/support/product-lifecycle-matrix.p...

Skylake Gold CPU became available in Q3 2017

https://ark.intel.com/products/120473/Intel-Xeon-Gold-5118-Processor-16_5M-Cache-2_30-GHz

There is a gap of 4 years between the GA of ESXi 5.5 software and hardware. I don't think you can expect VMware (or any other software vendor) to always go back to every older version of software to add support for new hardware/CPUs especially for those versions that would go out of general support soon. In the same way that Microsoft did not add new features into Window 2008 Server OS to use features of CPUs that were launched in 2013 or later.

From the looks of it neither buyer nor seller did any proper checking before the purchase agreement on the new server. Presumably, the purchase agreement includes technical/field support from HPE (or their reseller). How can HPE field engineers (or their representatives) support a customer using ESXi 5.5 on unqualified server hardware? You might as well buy some whitebox server in some unknown computer shop if you are installing ESXi software on unqualified server.

As what I have already indicated you risk having problems (technical, operational, and support) by using ESXi 5.5U2 on unqualified server hardware. You have to discuss with your manager (and/or his/her manager) and together with HPE/reseller that sold the new server.

[Wajeeh]

bluefirestorm​

Thank you,

Please let me know, in current cluster (Esxi 5.5 U2)

which consists of two DL 380p Gen 8 with E5-2650 (which is sandy bridge code name) and vcenter 5.5 also running as virtual machine, Can I set EVC mode to sandy bridge? It will be validated while VM's are running OR require off time?

Later as I have active support contract, I can obtain keys for esxi 6 and upgrade my vCenter to 6.0U3 because DL 380 Gen 10 minimum needed is 6.0 U3 I will install 6.0U3 to this new server and then I can add it to above cluster where I will now enable EVC as sandy bridge, is this possible? It will allow me to add this DL 380 Gen 10 host or not?

Once this is done, I can also do esxi upgrade to 6.0 U3 to current DL 380p Gen 8 ( as they support it)

regards,

[bluefirestorm]

By your reply it looks like you want to bring in the DL380 Gen 10 with ESXi 6.0 U3 first BEFORE upgrading the Gen 8 to ESXi 6.0 U3; effectively mixing ESXi 5.5 and ESXi 6.0 nodes in the same cluster.

I would think it would be better to upgrade the Gen 8 nodes to ESXi 6.0 U3 first and then bring in the Gen 10. If you take this approach, you would enable EVC as part of the process in upgrading to ESXi 6.0 U3.