PSOD on host with race condition between vmk_ScsiGetDeviceState and nmp_DeviceUpdatePathStates threads

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

ESXi host failed with a PSOD, the crash screen contains a backtrace similar to this example:

@BlueScreen: #PF Exception 14 in world XXXXXXX:HELPER_SCSI_ IP

MCSLockWork
vmk_ScsiGetDeviceState
nmp_DeviceUpdatePathStates
nmpPathProbe
SCSIPathProbe
SCSIPathSCN
SCSIPathSCNHelper
HelperQueueFunc
CpuSched_StartWorld
Debug_IsInitialized

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.3

Cause

This is a known issue.

A rare race condition between vmk_ScsiGetDeviceState and nmp_DeviceUpdatePathStates threads, it might lead to an ESXi host failing with a purple diagnostic screen.

Resolution

This issue is resolved in ESXi 7.0 Update 3q.

For more information, please refer to VMware ESXi 7.0 Update 3q Release Notes