Nested EXSi can't power up VM and shows PSOD

[Dell_Technologi]

I am working on Windows 10 Pro, VMware Workstation Pro 15 and ESXi 6.7 update 2 on Dell 7520 laptop. I understand this might not be officially support from hardware perspective. But let me explain:

1. First of all I was able to create a nested ESXi from Workstation. Then create VM (Linux) from this nested ESXi.

2. Few days later after I shut down the laptop few times none of the VM in ESXi can be powered on. After 10 min or so it gives PSOD with 'The CPU has been disabled by the guest operating system. Power off or reset the virtual machine.' popup box.

3. If I power off the EXSi or even remove it and recreate it, it won't work either

4. If I uninstall and reinstall Workstation, it won't work

5. Only I re-image my Windows OS it will start working again but fails few days later. This pattern has been for a month and I have re-do my OS three times already

Any suggestions and ideas where I can start investigating?

Thanks,

[Raj1988]

Well Nested ESXi is not supported. Can you try disabling Disable Intel SpeedStep technology control and then check

[Dell_Technologi]

Thanks. Can you point out where I can turn it off? I am on Windows 10 Pro.

[Raj1988]

Check Frequently Asked Questions about Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology...

[Dell_Technologi]

Thanks. I found it in BIOS and it was enabled. I have it disabled now but still no luck.

[continuum]

Running nested VMs on a laptop can be a bit painful.

Assume that allowing the host to go to sleep will prevent the nested ESXi to come up with all the required CPU-features.

So do not suspend the ESXi VM.

Do not suspend any of the nested VMs.

Expect that the ESXi VM only works correctly when you do a fresh start of the laptop - powercycled or resumed from sleep-mode may not work.

[Dell_Technologi]

Thanks for sharing the experience. My current situation is that the PSOD leads to re-image the OS to make nested esxi working for few days and fails again. I have done re-image three times already. Running Windows 10 Pro and Dell Precision 7520, Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-7920HQ CPU @ 3.10GHz, 3096 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 8 Logical Processor(s), BIOS Version/Date Dell Inc. 1.14.1, 4/3/2019.

Any help