CPU Support Deprecation and Discontinuation In VCF Releases
Article ID: 318697
Updated On:
Products
Issue/Introduction
In response to future CPU support plans from AMD, Intel, and VMware’s Server OEM partners, VMware provides the guidance below for support for servers using the CPUs shown in Table 1, Table 2 and Table 3. Many of these CPUs are already either at End-Of-Support (EOS) / End-Of-Life (EOL) from the above hardware vendors or will eventually be.
Intel Skylake CPUs:
Intel has transitioned the Skylake generation of processors into their ESU (End of Servicing Update) and their
EOSL (End of Servicing Lifetime is yet to be determined) phase. This includes the server class Xeon- Scalable Processors series, by December 31, 2023. (Note: Xeon 1st Gen, first launched July, 2017). See Intel Support link below.
This means Intel may have arrangements with any Server OEM partners for Extended Support (via Intel EOSL) for end user Customers.
As a result , VMware is planning to discontinue support of the Intel Skylake family processors in VCF 9.0.
Any Customers who wish to have continued VCF 9.0 support for Intel Skylake may request for an RPQ. RPQ customers must contact their OEM server partners directly if their OEM can provide Extended Support (via Intel EOSL) for their server models.
Intel Cascade Lake CPUs:
Intel has transitioned the Cascade Lake generation of processors into their ESU (End of Servicing Update) / EOSL (End of Servicing Lifetime is yet to be determined) phase. This includes the server class Xeon- Scalable Processors series, by June 30, 2025. (Xeon 2nd Gen, first launched April, 2019). See Intel Support link below.
This means Intel may have arrangements with any Server OEM partners for Extended Support (via Intel EOSL) for end user Customers.
As a result, VMware is now planning to discontinue support of the Intel Cascade Lake family processors in the future VCF Major Release after VCF 9.x.
For more details on processors support, please visit Intel’s site on “Changes in Customer Support and Servicing Updates for Select Intel® Processors”.
Environment
VCF 9.x
VMware vSphere ESXi
VMware vCenter Server
Resolution
Definitions:
- Future Major Release – the next VCF major release refers to the release after 9.x series
- Supported – VCF supports the CPU series
- Deprecated – VMware applies a two-step approach to CPU support. Phase 1 is Deprecate and then Phase 2 – Discontinue.
Phase 1 Deprecated phase begins with the VCF installer providing a warning for an imminent Discontinuation of the CPU later, in an upcoming major VCF release. The current installation process will be permitted to continue, and is supported during the entire life of this phase. See Table 1.
Note 1: A pre-condition for continued system/server support during this phase, is for the Server OEM partner to continue listing that server model on the Broadcom Compatibility Guide (BCG).
(If you do not see your server model listed, please contact your OEM Server partner representative directly for assistance)
Note 2: In Deprecated phase: These CPUs will continue to be supported through the lifetime of VCF for that stated release, updates, and patches, or until End-of-General Support (EoGS). See Product Lifecycle Matrix for VCF EoGS.
Note 3: In Deprecated phase: Customers installing or upgrading from release N-1 to N, VCF release on Servers with the specified CPUs will continue to see CPU support discontinuation warning messages. CPUs receiving the
warnings will still be supported by all current and future VCF minor releases, updates, and patches.
- Discontinued – In the Phase 2 Discontinued phase, the vSphere/VCF installer will block or prevent the installation for that VCF major release of the listed Discontinued CPU series.
Table 1 below lists CPU Support Deprecation/Discontinuation list planned with a future VCF major release, after 9.x
Table 2 below lists CPU Support Discontinuation for VCF 9.x
Legend:
| Supported | The VCF release fully supports the processor series with the proper patches and updates applied. |
| Deprecated | Installer Warning! See detailed explanation in “Definitions-” above. The vSphere release supports it, but it is recommended to deprecate use of the processor series. |
| Discontinued | Installer Error Message. Installation will be halted, and does not support the processor series. |
Table 1: Planned AMD/Intel CPU Support Deprecation/Discontinuation List
|
BCG CPU Series Name |
CPU Info |
Raw CPUIDs |
Code Name |
9.x |
Future Major |
|
AMD EPYC 7001 Series |
17.01 |
0x00800F10 |
Naples / Zen |
Deprecated |
Discontinued |
|
AMD EPYC 7002/7Fx2 Series |
17.31 |
0x00830F10 |
Rome / Zen2 |
Deprecated |
Discontinued |
|
Intel Xeon Platinum 8200 (Cascade-Lake-SP) Series |
6.55.6; 6.55.7 |
0x00050656; 0x00050657 |
Cascade Lake SP / Refresh |
Deprecated |
Discontinued |
|
Xeon E-2100 Series, Xeon E-2200 (4 or 6-core) Series |
6.9E.A; 6.9E.B; 6.9E.C |
0x000906EA; 0x000906EB; 0x000906EC |
Coffee Lake |
Deprecated |
Discontinued |
|
Xeon E-2200 (8-core) Series |
6.9E.D |
0x000906ED |
Coffee Lake Refresh |
Deprecated |
Discontinued |
|
Atom C3000 Series |
6.5F |
0x000506F0 |
Denverton |
Deprecated |
Discontinued |
Customers installing or upgrading from vSphere ESX 8.0x releases on Servers with Deprecated CPUs will see CPU support discontinuation warning messages. Following is the warning message shown by the VCF installer:
“<CPU_SUPPORT_WARNING: The CPUs in this host may not be supported in future VCF releases. Please plan accordingly.>"
Table 2: CPU Support Discontinuation List for VCF 9.x
|
BCG CPU Series Name |
CPU Info |
Raw CPUIDs |
Code Name |
9.x |
|
Xeon D-1500 Series |
6.56 |
0x00050660 |
Broadwell-DE |
Discontinued |
|
Xeon E3-1200-V5 Series; Xeon E3-1500-V5 Series |
6.5E.3 |
0x000506E3 |
Skylake S |
Discontinued |
|
Xeon E5-2600-V4 Series; Xeon E5-1600-V4 Series |
6.4F |
0x000406F0 |
Broadwell-EP |
Discontinued |
|
Xeon E5-4600-V4 Series |
6.4F |
0x000406F0 |
Broadwell-EP |
Discontinued |
|
Xeon E7-8800/4800-V4 Series |
6.4F |
0x000406F0 |
Broadwell-EP |
Discontinued |
|
Xeon E3-1200-v6 Series |
6.9E.9 |
0x000906E9 |
Kabylake-S |
Discontinued |
|
Intel Xeon Platinum 8100, Gold 6100/5100, Silver 4100, Bronze 3100 (Skylake-SP) Series |
6.55.4 |
0x00050654 |
Skylake-SP |
Discontinued |
|
Xeon D-2100 Series |
6.55.4 |
0x00050654 |
Skylake-D |
Discontinued |
|
Xeon W-2100 Series |
6.55.4 |
0x00050654 |
Skylake-W |
Discontinued |
Customers installing or upgrading to VCF 9.x release on Servers with impacted CPUs will not be able to proceed with the installation.
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