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  • 1.  INTEL Processor

    Posted Mar 19, 2013 12:02 PM

    Hello

    I have Xeon Wolfdale E5440 2.83GHz 45nm Socket 775LGA Family 6 Model 7 ExtendedModel 17 Stepping A Revision E0

    and
    Xeon Wolfdale E5440 2.83GHz 45nm Socket 775LGA Family 6 Model 7 ExtendedModel 17 Stepping A Revision C0

    Can I update Stepping A Revision C0 to E0??? (Any Intel Tool??)

    Thanks and Regards



  • 2.  RE: INTEL Processor

    Posted Mar 19, 2013 12:32 PM

    There is no way to permanently update the microcode of an Intel CPU.

    However, Intel has implemented a mechanism for updating the microcode at system boot time, either through a computer's BIOS or a microcode update routine of the OS that boots on the machine.

    For details see e.g. http://inertiawar.com/microcode/

    Why are you asking this question?

    - Andreas



  • 3.  RE: INTEL Processor

    Posted Mar 19, 2013 07:58 PM

    Because I cant use VMOTION. I need update CPU

    Any help?

    Thank you peetz



  • 4.  RE: INTEL Processor

    Posted Mar 19, 2013 08:10 PM

    Enable EVC on the cluster - it will force the presented stepping/revision to be the same for all hosts.  Its a feature designed exactly for this scenario.



  • 5.  RE: INTEL Processor

    Posted Mar 20, 2013 08:49 AM

    As Matt pointed out you will want to enable EVC.

    You should also check for differing BIOS versions and settings (NX-bit, VTd etc.), because this may also cause VMotion incompatibilities.

    Finally, search for the exact error in the VMware KB to get a clue of what else to check.



  • 6.  RE: INTEL Processor

    Posted Mar 20, 2013 09:10 AM

    Would a CPU revision difference between the two necessitate EVC and be the cause of vMotion not working?



  • 7.  RE: INTEL Processor

    Posted Mar 20, 2013 03:16 PM

    Absolutely it can.



  • 8.  RE: INTEL Processor

    Posted Mar 20, 2013 03:56 PM

    Thanks, I wasn't aware of this, I didn't expect the same processor number to have different instructions.  I can see now the E0 stepping has new XSAVE and XRSTORE instructions.



  • 9.  RE: INTEL Processor

    Posted Mar 20, 2013 04:00 PM

    I dont understand

    I have one procesor in E0 Stepping and other in C0 Stepping.... and I have one error to VMOTION: The CPUs are incompatibles

    What is the solution??

    Thanks and Regards



  • 10.  RE: INTEL Processor

    Posted Mar 20, 2013 04:28 PM

    Do you have vCenter and are your hosts in a cluster?  If so you will need to enable Enhanced vMotion Compatibility (EVC) on the cluster with a common baseline to be able to vMotion between hosts.  Some more information on EVC here:

    http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1003212

    http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-51/index.jsp?topic=%2Fcom.vmware.vsphere.vcenterhost.doc%2FGUID-DE575FB9-24AE-4453-966B-5340B8147FC9.html