How to enable VMWare EVC Support in ESX Clusters

Issue:

On or more ESX Hosts reports the following

 

EVC Cannot be enabled because one or more hosts in the cluster do not support EVC

EVC Cannot be enabled because not all virtual machines in the cluster are powered off

 

Incompatible hardware

ESX Server upgrade required for EVC support

 

Cause:

EVC Cannot be enabled because one or more hosts in the cluster do not support EVC

Review the error messages in the Incompatible Hosts section of the dialog box.  Correct as indicated below.

 

EVC Cannot be enabled because not all virtual machines in the cluster are powered off

If there are no other issues, power off all VMs and then enable EVC.

 

Incompatible hardware

The most likely cause is that the processor is not properly configured to allow EVC to function.

 

ESX Server upgrade required for EVC support

ESX Server or Virtual Center needs to be upgraded.

 

Solution:

Enable both the following settings in the Advanced Options of the Processor.

 

• No-Execute Memory Protection
• Intel/AMD Virtualization Technology

 

Here is a screen shot from an HP DL580 G5

 

Update ESX and Virtual Center to the following.

• ESX Server 3.5 Update 2 or higher
• Virtual Center 2.5 Update 2 or higher

 

More Information:

Beginning in Intel’s Penryn and AMD’s Rev. E or F Opterons, the ability for a hypervisor to change the response to the CPUID instruction was added.  Intel calls theirs FlexMigration, AMD’s is called AMD-V Extended Migration.

 

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1003212

 

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