Enhanced vMotion Compatibility (EVC) processor support

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.

To use EVC, you must be running ESX 3.5 Update 2 or higher with VirtualCenter 2.5 Update 2 or higher and have compatible processors in your servers. EVC does not allow for migration with VMotion between Intel and AMD processors.

Note: To search for supported EVC CPU types, see the charts below or refer to the WebHCL and search by EVC Modes.

 

Note the following restrictions:

1. VMware cannot verify whether all processor models listed are capable of EVC support. For more information on supported servers and processors models, see the Systems Compatibility Guide for your ESX version.

• Verify 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. For machines with AMD processors, under Processor Options, set No-Execute Page-Protection to Enabled. Until these CPU features are enabled, ESX hosts with EVC supported CPU types listed below will be unsupported.
  
  Note: XD is also listed as Execute Memory Protection under the processor option within the server BIOS.
  
  EVC capabilities of your server are based on two factors:
  1. The version of vCenter Server that manages the host.
  2. The underlying CPU architecture of the host processor.
     
  For Details about  EVC baselines Refer this link
  
  
  http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1003212