cpu evc

[ferexderta]

We want to add a new ESXi server to the ESXi server CPU family ( Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-2683 v4 @ 2.10GHz ) in our current environment. This ESXi server CPU family (Intel Xeon Gold 6326 2.9G, 16C/32T, 11.2GT/s, 24M Cache, Turbo, HT (185W) DDR4-3200) will two CPUs work in the same cluster and how can I check it?

[stadi13]

Hi @ferexderta 

Yes, it will work. You need to enable EVC on Cluster level to the lowest/oldest CPU version. In your case you need to set EVC to "Boradwell" as the E5-2683 v4 is the older CPU. You can check this by starting a VM on the newer CPU generation ESX-Host and vMotion it to the older CPU generation ESX-Host.

Please hit resolved, when your question has been answered.

Regards Daniel

[ferexderta]

How did you detect that it is compatible?

[virtsysadmin · Accepted solution]

CPU family ( Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-2683 v4 @ 2.10GHz ) -  Broadwell
CPU family (Intel Xeon Gold 6326  - Ice Lake

Enable EVC and set the cluster EVC level to Broadwell and you can use them in the same cluster, and if you are decommission servers with Broadwell , then once Decommissioned change the EVC to higher level, and when you restart VMs they will pick the new CPU features on restart.

https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/1005764

[stadi13]

@ferexderta 

all Intel CPUs are compatible as long EVC level is available in vSphere. And this is the case for your CPU. Keep in mind - you cannot mix AMD and Intel.