Enhanced VMotion Compatibility (EVC) processor support

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Enhanced VMotion Compatibility (EVC) processor support
KB Article 1003212
Updated Feb. 04, 2009
Details
Enhanced VMotion Compatibility (EVC) simplifies VMotion compatibility issues across CPU generations. EVC automatically configures server CPUs with Intel FlexMigration or AMD-V Extended Migration technologies to be compatible with older servers. After EVC is enabled for a cluster in the VirtualCenter inventory, all hosts in that cluster are configured to present identical CPU features and ensure CPU compatibility for VMotion. The features presented by each host are determined by selecting a predefined EVC baseline. VirtualCenter does not permit the addition of hosts that cannot be automatically configured to be compatible with the EVC baseline.
 

Solution

To use the EVC feature, you must be running ESX Server 3.5 Update 2 or higher with Virtual Center 2.5 Update 2 or higher and have only compatible processors that are listed in one of the following tables. EVC does not allow for migration with VMotion between Intel and AMD processors. Note the following restrictions:

  • The tables below are based upon public information. VMware has not verified all of these processors. For more information on which servers and processors are supported, see the Systems Compatibility Guide for ESX Server 3.5 and ESX Server 3i.
  • This list only covers server class processors compatible with the EVC baseline(s) and might not be a complete list.
  • You must ensure the BIOS settings for these processors enable Hardware Virtualization (if available) and Execute Protection. Default BIOS settings may not always enable these features. Hardware Virtualization is Intel VT on Intel processors and AMD-V on (supported) AMD processors. Execute Protection is Intel eXecute Disable (XD) on Intel processors and AMD No eXecute (NX) on AMD processors.

This section contains the following subjects:

 

Intel® Xeon® CPUs allowed in an EVC cluster

Intel CPU Models

EVC Baseline in ESX 3.5U2

Merom based CPUs

Intel® Xeon® Processor 7000 series
E7210, E7220, E7310, E7320, E7330, E7340, L7345, X7350 (Tigerton)

Default for Intel Hosts

Intel® Xeon® Processor 5000 series
5110, 5120, 5128, 5130, 5138, 5140, 5148, 5150, 5160 (Woodcrest)

E5310, L5310, E5320, L5320, E5335, L5335, E5345, x5355, x5365 (Clovertown)

Intel® Xeon® Processor 3000 series
3040, 3050, 3060, 3065, 3070, 3075, 3085 (Conroe)

x3210, x3220, x3230 (Kentsfield)

Penryn based CPUs

Intel® Xeon® Processor 7000 series
x7470, E7459, E7440, E7430, E7420, L7455, L7445 (Dunnington)
Intel® Xeon® Processor 5000 series
E5205, L5238, X5260, X5272 (Wolfdale)

E5405, E5410, L5410, E5420, L5420, E5430, E5440, E5450, X5405, X5460, E5462, E5472, X5472, X5482 (Harpertown)

Intel® Xeon® Processor 3000 series
E3110 (Wolfdale)

X3320, X3350, X3360 (Yorkfield)

 


 

AMD Opteron™ CPUs allowed in an EVC Cluster

AMD CPU Models

EVC Baseline in ESX 3.5U2

Rev.E/Rev.F based CPUs

Rev.E based CPUs

1yy (Denmark, Venus), 2yy (Troy, Italy), 8yy (Athens, Egypt)

Rev.F based CPUs

12yy (Santa Ana), 22yy, 82yy (Santa Rosa)

Default for AMD hosts

Third Generation AMD Opteron(tm) Greyhound based CPUs.
 
Greyhound based CPUs

13yy (Budapest), 23yy, 83yy (Barcelona)
* The "yy" in the AMD Opteron models numbers are based on the clock frequency


References

See the following VMware references for information on the following subjects:

Also, see the following third-party references:

Other references:


Product Versions
VMware ESX 3.5.x

 
 
 

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