Vmotion between Dell R710 and 2950 with X5550 and E5405 processors.

[pinpointrg]

I have two Dell servers. One is an R710 with dual X5550 processors and the other is a Dell 2950 with dual E5405 processors. I've created a cluster and enabled DRS. Whever I try to enable a host with fault tolerance, I get an error stating "Host CPU is incompatible with the virtual machine's requirements Mismatch detected for theses features: CPU model does not match" I will also attach a screen shot to this post.

I have EVC enabled and have tried both Intel XEON core 2 and Intel XEON 45nm Core 2. Both seam to provide the same results.

Any help would be appreciated. I would also like to know if these two servers just won't work in an fault tolerant cluster.

Thanks in advance.

[golddiggie · Accepted solution]

Found the explaination in KB Article 1008027 (http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=1008027&sliceId=1&docTypeID=DT_KB_1_1&dialogID=74090014&stateId=0 0 79231139)

"For VMware FT to be supported, the servers that host the virtual machines must each use a supported processor from the same category as documented below:"

The two hosts are from two different categories.

Intel Xeon based on 45nm Core 2 Microarchitecture Category:

•3100 Series

•3300 Series

•5200 Series (DP)

•5400 Series

•7400 Series

Intel Xeon based on Core i7 Microarchitecture Category:

•3400 Series (Lynnfield)*

•3500 Series

•5500 Series

VMware VCP4

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[AntonVZhbankov]

Power all VMs off and enable EVC for cluster - you should be able to VMotion VMs.

However, as already stated, you won't be able to run FT VMs on such cluster. 55xx can run FT VM only if secondary host is also 55xx.

---

MCSA, MCTS, VCP, VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[jaymemaurice]

Back in the day I remember it was possible to do CPU featureset masking... is this not possible for him?

[golddiggie]

That could be what's giving the categories their compatibility. Too far outside and it doesn't fly with FT... HA will still work though, with the correct settings.

VMware VCP4

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[pinpointrg]

You can do something called CPU masking, but I thought this was taken care of by EVC which I have enabled on the cluster.

[pinpointrg]

I've done this several times, but I'm still not able to VMotion guests between hosts. Always askes me to power off the guest OS first.

[jaymemaurice]

Okay so FT will not work but simple VMotion should work when EVC or the correct manual CPU masking is applied.

The EVC/CPU masking can only be applied while the guest are powered down because after they are booted the CPU features are potentially in use by the OS.

[golddiggie]

Yeah... I just put in the categories to show that it wasn't something that should work, but something that's limited by other factors (hence the doc linkie)...

You know what they say... xen happens...

VMware VCP4

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[pinpointrg]

Does anyone know what CPU mask I should use on the hosts to get VMotion going??

[jaymemaurice]

Here is the theory behind it: http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/06/19/more-on-cpu-masking/

You will still need to shutdown and apply to each VM

[malaysiavm]

I will suggest you to configure the EVC option everytime you build the new cluster in VMware.

Craig

vExpert 2009

Malaysia VMware Communities -

[pinpointrg]

Thanks for everyone's help. I have VMotion running and it appears to work as expected. What was throwing me off was a little caution message that showed up during the VMotion process. "The virtual machine must be powered off to perform this function"

See attached screen shot as well.