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cjscol
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Problem vMotioning between two HP BL460c Gen 9 servers when EVC enabled

I've got two HP BL460c Gen 9 blades configured exactly the same with 2 x Intel XEON E5-2660 v3 processors in each of them. Both running the same ROM version (I36 05/06/2015) and running the same version of ESXi (5.0.0 build 2509828). They are being managed by a vCenter 5.0.0 Build 2656067 server.

When I configure these two servers in a cluster with EVC disabled I am able to vMotion between them. However, if I enable any of the Intel EVC modes then I am unable to vMotion between these two identical servers.  Here is an example of the message I get when I have EVC mode set to Westmere

Host CPU is incompatible with the virtual machine's requirements at CPUID level 0x1 register 'ecx'.

Host bits: 0000:0010:1001:1000:0010:0010:0000:0011

Required: x110:x01x:11x1:1xx0:xx11:xx1x:xxxx:xx11

Mismatch detected for these features:

* General incompatibilities

If I disable EVC then I can vMotion VMs between them.

I wanted to add these hosts to an existing cluster configured with EVC Westmere mode so that I could vMotion between the old and new hosts but was unable to vMotion VMs off the new hosts, even if I tried to vMotion to the other new host.

I setup a new cluster with just these two new hosts in so I could experiment. I can only vMotion between them if EVC is disabled. I can't even increase the EVC mode on this new cluster, e.g. from Westmere to Sandy Bridge while I have VMs powered on within the cluster. For example: I set the EVC mode to Westmere, power on a VM, when I go to change the EVC mode to Sandy Bridge I get the following message, I should be able to increase the EVC mode but maybe not lower it

The cluster cannot be configured with the selected Enhanced vMotion

Compatibility mode; CPU features disabled by that mode may currently be in use

by powered-on or suspended virtual machines in the cluster.

I get this message even if I try setting the EVC mode to the same level it is already at.

Anyone got any ideas on how to resolve this issue?

Calvin Scoltock VCP 2.5, 3.5, 4, 5 & 6 VCAP5-DCD VCAP5-DCA http://pelicanohintsandtips.wordpress.com/blog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cscoltock
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DavoudTeimouri
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Hi,

Seems, your CPU is not supporting by ESXi 5.0 and vCenter 5.0, so you need to upgrade your vSphere to vSphere 6.x to enabling EVC.

See the below links and also attached EVC compatibility matrix:

VMware KB: Enhanced vMotion Compatibility (EVC) processor support

Intel CPU EVC Matrix (VMware Enhanced vMotion Compatibility) | Virten.net

Intel_EVC_Processor_matrix_2015.png

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Davoud Teimouri - https://www.teimouri.net - Twitter: @davoud_teimouri Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teimouri.net/

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DavoudTeimouri
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Hi,

Seems, your CPU is not supporting by ESXi 5.0 and vCenter 5.0, so you need to upgrade your vSphere to vSphere 6.x to enabling EVC.

See the below links and also attached EVC compatibility matrix:

VMware KB: Enhanced vMotion Compatibility (EVC) processor support

Intel CPU EVC Matrix (VMware Enhanced vMotion Compatibility) | Virten.net

Intel_EVC_Processor_matrix_2015.png

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Davoud Teimouri - https://www.teimouri.net - Twitter: @davoud_teimouri Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teimouri.net/
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cjscol
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Cheers Davoud. I was coming to the conclusion that the processor was not supported by the low level of vSphere installed but couldn't find the information. So thanks for posting the link.

Calvin Scoltock VCP 2.5, 3.5, 4, 5 & 6 VCAP5-DCD VCAP5-DCA http://pelicanohintsandtips.wordpress.com/blog LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cscoltock
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