Does EVC need to be enabled to upgrade identical hosts in a vSAN cluster?

[WDGNet]

I am in the process of upgrading my VMware infrastructure.  One of the things I ran was the pre-check remediation.  In that, it says to enable EVC.  I have four hosts in my cluster and they're exactly the same hardware.  Is it safe to disregard this request to enable EVC?

[daphnissov]

Yes, so long as you never have any intention to add newer hosts to this same cluster (potentially).

[Nawals]

EVC already enabled as you said. You can safely ignore it.

[scott28tt]

Enabling it now at the highest level your hosts support should future-proof your cluster

[a_p_]

I always enable EVC even with exact same hardware.

Do you remember Intel's microcode issues/patches from early last year, which modified CPU instructions? In (rare) cases like this EVC helps to retain vMotion compatibility during such microcode updates. In any case, there's actually nothing you lose with enabling EVC.

André

[WDGNet]

So, if I enable EVC at the cluster, there will be no repercussions?  No impact whatsoever on my production cluster?

[WDGNet]

EVC is currently disabled.  The pre-check is requesting that I enable it.

[Nawals]

It’s my bad. You can enable it then fine.

[a_p_ · Accepted solution]

No impact whatsoever on my production cluster?

Enabling EVC itself has no impact on running VMs.

However, if EVC complaints about missing CPU features on hosts, you will need to take manual action in order to be able to enable it.

André