Have three ESXI Server (5.1)
Host1 CPU: Intel E-2665
Host2 CPU: Intel E-2680
Host3 CPU: Intel E5645
3 Hosts have different CPU, I'm not sure how to config EVC MODE on VMware Vcenter Cluster.
Hello,
I believe you mean to say host 1 and host 2 has E5-2665 and E5-2680 respectively. Then, these belong to the SandyBridge family. Host 3 E5645 belongs to Westmere family.
Intel CPU EVC Matrix (VMware Enhanced vMotion Compatibility) | Virten.net
The EVC CPU family goes in the order (lowest to highest) - Merom, Penryn, Nehalem, Westmere, SandyBridge, IvyBridge, Haswell and so On.
In our case, the lowest we have is Westmere and the highest is Sandybridge.
While enabling EVC it will ask you to set a baseline. The baseline that has to be chosen is the lowest CPU family in the cluster. The lowest CPU family in our cluster is Westmere, so the EVC baseline to be set is Westmere.
However, there is a rule in EVC:
While enabling EVC on the cluster, any host having a CPU family that is higher than the baseline being set, then the VMs on that host has to be powered OFF while enabling EVC.
What this tells is, the virtual machines running on SandyBridge host has to be Powered OFF first, enable the EVC with Westmere baseline, and then Power ON the VMs on the SandyBridge host. The VMs on the Westmere host can stay powered ON during this operation.
This is because, the SandyBridge host has higher CPU features which will be masked by EVC to create a homogeneous CPU across the cluster. Masking a CPU feature when a VM is Powered ON is not recommended as the VM is actively using that feature.
So the steps to be followed:
1. Power OFF the VMs on the SandyBridge host.
2. Right Click the Cluster > Edit Settings > VMware EVC > Change
3. Enable EVC for Intel hosts and from the Baseline drop-down select Intel Westmere. Click OK
4. Power ON the VMs on Sandybridge host.
5. Perform a vMotion to test EVC.
Suhas
Hello,
I believe you mean to say host 1 and host 2 has E5-2665 and E5-2680 respectively. Then, these belong to the SandyBridge family. Host 3 E5645 belongs to Westmere family.
Intel CPU EVC Matrix (VMware Enhanced vMotion Compatibility) | Virten.net
The EVC CPU family goes in the order (lowest to highest) - Merom, Penryn, Nehalem, Westmere, SandyBridge, IvyBridge, Haswell and so On.
In our case, the lowest we have is Westmere and the highest is Sandybridge.
While enabling EVC it will ask you to set a baseline. The baseline that has to be chosen is the lowest CPU family in the cluster. The lowest CPU family in our cluster is Westmere, so the EVC baseline to be set is Westmere.
However, there is a rule in EVC:
While enabling EVC on the cluster, any host having a CPU family that is higher than the baseline being set, then the VMs on that host has to be powered OFF while enabling EVC.
What this tells is, the virtual machines running on SandyBridge host has to be Powered OFF first, enable the EVC with Westmere baseline, and then Power ON the VMs on the SandyBridge host. The VMs on the Westmere host can stay powered ON during this operation.
This is because, the SandyBridge host has higher CPU features which will be masked by EVC to create a homogeneous CPU across the cluster. Masking a CPU feature when a VM is Powered ON is not recommended as the VM is actively using that feature.
So the steps to be followed:
1. Power OFF the VMs on the SandyBridge host.
2. Right Click the Cluster > Edit Settings > VMware EVC > Change
3. Enable EVC for Intel hosts and from the Baseline drop-down select Intel Westmere. Click OK
4. Power ON the VMs on Sandybridge host.
5. Perform a vMotion to test EVC.
Suhas
Hi
Check this KB: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=100321...
...and compatibilty matrix: VMware Compatibility Guide: cpu
Based on your informations seems you can use Westmere or Nehalem...
Hello:
Thanks for your detailed answer,and I understand the EVC Mode. thanks very much.
Thanks very much! It's very usefull.