"The target host does not support the virtual machine's current hardware requirements" error when migrating a VM in powered ON state

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• vMotion of VMs across the ESXi hosts in a cluster with same Hardware Model, CPU series and ESXi version fails with the below error:
  
  "The target host does not support the virtual machine's current hardware requirements. Use a cluster with Enhanced vMotion Compatibility (EVC) enabled to create a uniform set of CPU features across the cluster, or use per-VM EVC for a consistent set of CPU features for a virtual machine and allow the virtual machine to be moved to a host capable of supporting that set of CPU features. See KB article 1003212 for cluster EVC information. Fast short REP MOV is unsupported. Fast string operations (Enhanced REP MOVSB/STOSB) are unsupported."


Environment

VMware vCenter Server
VMware vSphere

Cause

• The microcode version running on Host CPU differs between the hosts causing the EVC errors.
• If one ESXi host has a newer microcode version than another, CPU features exposed may differ, triggering EVC mismatches and vMotion failures.
• The microcode details can be found by running the command below on ESXi shell:
  vsish -e cat /hardware/cpu/cpuList/0 |grep microcode -A 2

Resolution

• Update Host Firmware (BIOS/UEFI) and ensure all hosts are updated to the same firmware level.
• This ensures consistent microcode across hosts.