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csrs
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Compatibility CPU with VMotion

Hello,

we just installed a new esx serveur and now when i try do a VMotion between my first esx serveur i get an error, incompatibility cpu ecx mask etc...

I found the matrix for CPU compatibility but i am not sure i understand it good ... so i want a confirmation please if my proc are compatible for Vmotion !

here's the 2 processors, Intel Xeon E5450 and Intel Xeon X5650

If its not compatible what do i need to do ?? wait for a new Vcenter/vsphere version ??? i actualy use Vsphere/vcenter 4.00 update 1

Thanks for answering that question !

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a_p_
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You said you have two of the E5450 hosts. So why not Vmotion the VMs to one host and then move the other one to the new cluster. That way you will see wheter it works or not.

André

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MauroBonder
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this maybe helpful

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=100321...

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=100576...

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=101311...

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csrs
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I already saw that link http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=100321...

that talking about the EVC that is not actually enabled on my esx cluster, when i try to enable this i see an compatibility error, in the link we can also se the matrix for the compatibility between each proccessor, when i check that from 1 side i can see its not compatible but when i check it from the other side thats say its compatible ... its why i wrote i dont understand the matrix ....

i have a 54xx Series (Intel® 45nm Core™2 (Penryn)) and a brand new 56xx Series (Intel® 32nm Core™ i7 (Westmere))

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a_p_
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The way to read this table is from left to right, which means both of your CPUs are capable to work in "Intel® Xeon® 45nm Core™2 EVC Mode"

André

csrs
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Its weird, i did a test.... Actually we have 3 server ESX, 2 with the same hardware configuration, the older one with the xeon E5450 CPU and the 3rd with the xeon x5650 when i try to enable EVC i have 4 mode possible, like you said andré the "Intel® Xeon® 45nm Core™2 EVC Mode" description say that its compatible but in the lower frame i can see an error and i can't click OK because of that, "Incompatible CPU: the following hosts have CPUs that do not support EVC. Remove these hosts from the cluster" and i see my 2 first Esx server that have the same hardware .... I created a new cluster and i moved the new esx with the x5650 cpu in to let the 2 other be alone in the cluster and its the same things ... cant enable EVC in this cluster with those host ... and they have the same hardware ...

Do i need to move host in another cluster and enable EVC and move back host in the cluster ??? i dont really want to do that because they are in production ....

Maybe i found something ... i am thinking my CPU is a 54xx series listed in the matrix but maybe its not ... its seems to have a X5400 series ... i my CPU is a Xeon quad core E5450 maybe this CPU is not in the (Intel® 45nm Core™2 (Penryn)) like i was thinking ???

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a_p_
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I created a new cluster and i moved the new esx with the x5650 cpu in to let the 2 other be alone in the cluster and its the same things ... cant enable EVC in this cluster with those host ... and they have the same hardware ...

Do your hosts meet the prerequisites to enable EVC?

- Intel VT-x enabled in the BIOS (should be defult for G6)

- NX-Flag enabled in the BIOS

- no VMs currently running on the host

André

csrs
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No actually my host have VMs running in production, so i need to power off all the VMs before enabling EVC ???

But before trying that i want to be sure that my Intel Xeon quad core E5450 is really in the 54xxSeries with "Intel® 45nm Core™2 (Penryn)" architechture seen in the EVC cluster Baseline http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=100321...

thanks for your answer

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a_p_
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You said you have two of the E5450 hosts. So why not Vmotion the VMs to one host and then move the other one to the new cluster. That way you will see wheter it works or not.

André

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csrs
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Yes you right, i will try that next week and let you some news about it but i think you just solved my problem, in the case all is good with enabling EVC i'll do this http://malaysiavm.com/blog/how-to-enable-evc-on-esx-35/ to move VMs without interruption

Thank you André

Marc-André

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csrs
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Ok... i tryied to enable EVC with my 2 host on a new cluster ... i also tryed to enable EVC on a cluster with only 1 host with the E5450 cpu and tryied any mode ... that does not work ! no vm was powered on in the host by the way, report to the compatibility baseline http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=100321... my CPU is suppose to be in the Intel® 45nm Core™2 (Penryn) as we can see here http://www.intel.com/cd/channel/reseller/asmo-na/eng/products/server/processors/q5400/feature/index.... for the E5450 ... so i dont understand why thats say its not compatible ... thx for help !

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a_p_
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Did you enable Intel-VT as well as No Execute (NX) in the BIOS?

Do you get an error message when you try to enable the EVC mode?

André

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csrs
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its was the no-execute ... its was disable by default on the 2 first esx !

thanks you andré

Marc-André

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