Cannot add IBM servers to an EVC enabled cluster

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• In an EVC enabled cluster, adding an IBM server with Intel Xeon 32nm Core i7 processor fails
• You see the error:
  
  EVC cannot be enabled because on or more hosts in the cluster do not support EVC

• When you try to join the host to the cluster you get an error in EVC mode:

The host's CPU hardware should support the clusters current Enhanced Vmotion Compatibility mode,but for some of the necessary CPU features are missing from the host.Check the host's BIOS configuration to ensure that no necessary features are disabled(such as XD,VT,AES, or PCLMULQDQ for intel, or NX for AMD).

Environment

VMware ESXi 4.0.x Embedded
VMware ESXi 4.0.x Installable
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.0
VMware ESXi 4.1.x Installable
VMware ESX Server 3.5.x
VMware ESXi 4.1.x Embedded
VMware ESX 4.0.x
VMware ESXi 3.5.x Embedded
VMware ESXi 3.5.x Installable
VMware ESX 4.1.x

Cause

This issue occurs if the value of the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) feature is enabled in the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI). For the host to be added successfully, this value should match with the other IBM servers in the EVC cluster.

Resolution

This is a known issue with IBM servers.

For more information and for a resolution, see the IBM article VMware VMotion fails with "CPU is incompatible" error - IBM Servers.

Note: The preceding link was correct as of July 10th, 2012. If you find the link is broken, provide feedback and a VMware employee will update the link.

Additional Information

For related information, see Enabling EVC on a host with an EVC supported processor fails (2008403)
Enabling EVC on a host with an EVC supported processor fails