topic Re: Compatibility problem Intel Xeon Gold 6252 in Test Forum Discussions

Compatibility problem Intel Xeon Gold 6252

vmezen — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 09:28:35 GMT

Hello!

Not so long time ago we got new server with 2 sokets Intel Xeon Gold 6252 (2.1Ghz, 48 cores, 96 threads) on S2600WF.

When we setup ESXi 6.7U2 U3, it recognize our server like 4 sokets by 12 cores per soket, and it dosen`t matter is the hypertridding on or off.

When we setup ESXi 7, it even doesn`t recognize processors on installing stage. We have Purple Screen of Death with error "HW feature incompatibility detected: cannot start" (attached below). It seem like ESXi doesn't support Xeon Gold 6252, but compatibility guide says that it is supporting Xeon Gold 6200 family.

And also we have no problems with Xeon Gold 6138 on same S2600WF, bought earlier.

We have ESXi 6.7 license.

Firmware on S2600WF set on latest.

Please help if you can!

Sorry if wrong place to ask. If it is not difficult tell me where to ask.

Re: Compatibility problem Intel Xeon Gold 6252

bluefirestorm — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 10:56:26 GMT

For the ESX 7.0 PSOD, it is looks similar (similar only not exactly the same) to this thread.
https://communities.vmware.com/t5/ESXi-Discussions/Upgrade-ESXI-7-0-1-Fatal-CPU-mismatch/td-p/2813635

Try specifying the boot parameter as indicated in that thread
cpuUniformityHardCheckPanic=FALSE

I don't have an answer why ESXi 6.7 does not see the number of cores/threads correctly for the Xeon Gold 6252.

Re: Compatibility problem Intel Xeon Gold 6252

vmezen — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 06:20:06 GMT

You meen to modify boot.cfg like this:

bootstate=0
title=Loading ESXi installer
timeout=5
prefix=
kernel=/b.b00
kernelopt=cdromBoot runweasel
cpuUniformityHardCheckPanic=FALSE
modules=/jumpstrt.gz --- /useropts.gz --- /features.gz --- /k.b00 --- /uc_intel.b00 --- /uc_amd.b00 --- /uc_hygon.b00 --- /procfs.b00 --- /vmx.v00 --- /vim.v00 --- /tpm.v00 --- /sb.v00 --- /s.v00 --- /bnxtnet.v00 --- /bnxtroce.v00 --- /brcmfcoe.v00 --- /brcmnvme.v00 --- /elxiscsi.v00 --- /elxnet.v00 --- /i40en.v00 --- /i40iwn.v00 --- /iavmd.v00 --- /icen.v00 --- /igbn.v00 --- /iser.v00 --- /ixgben.v00 --- /lpfc.v00 --- /lpnic.v00 --- /lsi_mr3.v00 --- /lsi_msgp.v00 --- /lsi_msgp.v01 --- /lsi_msgp.v02 --- /mtip32xx.v00 --- /ne1000.v00 --- /nenic.v00 --- /nfnic.v00 --- /nhpsa.v00 --- /nmlx4_co.v00 --- /nmlx4_en.v00 --- /nmlx4_rd.v00 --- /nmlx5_co.v00 --- /nmlx5_rd.v00 --- /ntg3.v00 --- /nvme_pci.v00 --- /nvmerdma.v00 --- /nvmxnet3.v00 --- /nvmxnet3.v01 --- /pvscsi.v00 --- /qcnic.v00 --- /qedentv.v00 --- /qedrntv.v00 --- /qfle3.v00 --- /qfle3f.v00 --- /qfle3i.v00 --- /qflge.v00 --- /rste.v00 --- /sfvmk.v00 --- /smartpqi.v00 --- /vmkata.v00 --- /vmkfcoe.v00 --- /vmkusb.v00 --- /vmw_ahci.v00 --- /crx.v00 --- /elx_esx_.v00 --- /btldr.v00 --- /esx_dvfi.v00 --- /esx_ui.v00 --- /esxupdt.v00 --- /tpmesxup.v00 --- /weaselin.v00 --- /loadesx.v00 --- /lsuv2_hp.v00 --- /lsuv2_in.v00 --- /lsuv2_ls.v00 --- /lsuv2_nv.v00 --- /lsuv2_oe.v00 --- /lsuv2_oe.v01 --- /lsuv2_oe.v02 --- /lsuv2_sm.v00 --- /native_m.v00 --- /qlnative.v00 --- /vdfs.v00 --- /vmware_e.v00 --- /vsan.v00 --- /vsanheal.v00 --- /vsanmgmt.v00 --- /tools.t00 --- /xorg.v00 --- /gc.v00 --- /imgdb.tgz --- /imgpayld.tgz
build=7.0.1-0.25.17325551
updated=0

Re: Compatibility problem Intel Xeon Gold 6252

bluefirestorm — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 06:42:48 GMT

I think you can try first by entering the option after pressing the "Shift-O" key.

If you want to make it permanent (assuming it works), then you edit the boot.cfg.

https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/6.7/com.vmware.esxi.upgrade.doc/GUID-A33C4CAB-18EE-4C8C-A55D-8AD7E8042BFA.html?hWord=N4IghgNiBcIKIDsAuBTATgAgEIHsdIwHkAHJASxwQGcMkcMBlJMNAsBDASWuYgjHKUMOTAFViAczRgAJikYBjNGVIgAvkA

Re: Compatibility problem Intel Xeon Gold 6252

vmezen — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 08:41:49 GMT

Thank you very much. I tried both ways, but no one works on ESXi 7.0 U1.((((

This works with ESXi 7.0 U2, but we have same situation like ESXi 6.7 U2 U3 - 4 sokets 12 coers per soket