MC1024 Tracker

Re: VSphere 6.7: Server 2016 CPUID changed.

MC1024 — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 04:42:40 GMT

The thing is we've not reverted a host to an earlier version of ESXi. I did a search on what IBRS, STIBP and IBPB mean and it's all related to the Spectre/Meltdown stuff. I know the VMWare servers had mitigation applied when it first hit but I am now wondering if a BIOS or firmware update was done in the last few weeks. I'll talk to the team responsible and see if a firmware update was applied. Then it could be something as simple as a Spectre/Meltdown mitigation.

Re: VSphere 6.7: Server 2016 CPUID changed.

MC1024 — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 04:08:16 GMT

Hi ThompsG

This is the thread from 2014 I found referencing those values, but they don't exist in the .vmx of my machine. Do they exist somewhere else? How do I modify the values?

Manipulating Guest CPUID

Re: VSphere 6.7: Server 2016 CPUID changed.

MC1024 — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 02:44:49 GMT

Hi All

As I said in my lab test post, I have rebooted machines, moved machines, re registered machines and yet the CPUID hasn't changed.The only thing I think that might have done it is the U1 patch.

Re: VSphere 6.7: Server 2016 CPUID changed.

MC1024 — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 06:45:36 GMT

Just to post an update. I did some lab testing of the following scenarios:

Windows 7 and Server 2016 standard:

Live vmotion
Cold vmotion
Unregister and re register machine on a different host.

In all scenarios the CPUID did not change.

in the release notes for U1 there is mention of EVC but I'm not sure that bug applies to our situation.

VMware vCenter Server 6.7 Update 1 Release Notes

Re: VSphere 6.7: Server 2016 CPUID changed.

MC1024 — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 03:58:57 GMT

Hello @ThompsG

Thanks for the reply.

So if EVC mode hasn't been changed on the cluster, vmotion has been performed successfully in the past month, and the 3 hosts have the same CPU and models (BL460c G9) what is the trigger? a powered on vmotion in isolation isn't enough to cause a change in CPUID as I've observed this happening without issue, but perhaps a cold vmotion is enough to trigger it? I will have to test in the lab.

We are working with the manufacturer to get a long term fix to this, but in short it collects multiple parameters such as CPUID, BIOS serial, Physical RAM and MAC address to generate a machine key that is provided to the manufacturer for activation. A very brutal process that doesn't work well at all in a virtual environment. The manufacturer says in their spec sheet that they support VMWare so this looks like a bug but I'd like to avoid triggering a license invalidation whilst the bug is resolved.

VSphere 6.7: Server 2016 CPUID changed.

MC1024 — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 01:50:32 GMT

Hello, we had an issue with a guest CPU ID changing on a guest which I have listed below.

We have an application running on Windows Server 2016 that used CPUID as part of the application licensing.
HA kicked in due to a network issue and this caused the machine to start up on host 3 of a 3 host cluster.
The application license on the guest VM had become invalidated to to CPUID change.
Checked the vsphere logs and saw that in the months past the VM had VMotioned successfully between hosts 1 and 2 without issue many times.
Moved VM back to host 2 hoping to reactivate the license but the CPUID stayed the same.
CPUD ID was: 0FABFBFF000306F0 is now: 0F8BFBFF000306F0
EVC is enabled on the cluster and is set to intel "Haswell" Generation.

My questions are:

How are CPUID's generated for the guest machines? I have read a post from 2014 that said the CPUID was in the .vmx file. I had a look but it was not there so I assume that has changed over the years.

I checked other 2016 servers running on the same host and found each VM has a different CPUID, are unique values assigned to each guest during provisioning? Shouldn't the CPUID's be the same for machines running on the same host?

And my most important question: How can the CPUID change and stay changed after the server restarts on another host?

Thanks for the help.

Re: Not entitled to download ISO's.

MC1024 — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 09:23:15 GMT

Hi Scott

So you're saying I have to purchase subscription to another VMWare program just to download the software that'll allow me to complete my studies? Seems a bit over the top? Is there no other way to obtain the software for study purposes?

P.S I'm not sure why this was moved from the VCP forum as it directly relates to renewing my VCP.

Not entitled to download ISO's.

MC1024 — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 00:04:21 GMT

Hello

I have to renew my VCP6-DCV by April and I"m trying to download ISO's for Vsphere 6.5 but I get an error message saying I'm not entitled to download. When I go to the free trial section it takes me to Vpshere 6.7, I don't want this version, I want 6.5. What is the correct way for someone who is investing their time and money getting certified on the VMWare product line to obtain the required software for their lab to complete their training?

Re: Certification Satifaction survey

MC1024 — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 08:37:27 GMT

Hi Scott

That link takes you to the enrolment form for the SME exam development program. To me it looks like there are two messages in the banner, one asking you to participate in the satisfaction survey and the other asking you to participate in exam development.

Certification Satifaction survey

MC1024 — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 02:12:49 GMT

I signed into certification manager today and there was a banner asking me to take part in the certification survey but there was no link available to click. Where do I find this survey?