Error: Machine Check Exception (MCE) resulting in a Purple Screen of Death (PSOD)
Article ID: 372284
Updated On:
Products
Issue/Introduction
- An ESXi host encountering a Purple Screen of Death (PSOD) might display a reference to a "Machine Check Exception".
- At the ESXi console, the Purple Screen of Death (PSOD) screen will have entries similar to the following:
VMware ESXi #.#.# [Releasebuild-######## x86_64]Machine Check Exception on PCPU## in world ######:idle51System has encountered a Hardware Error - Please contact the hardware vendorUncorrectable/recoverable memory error in world ####; unable to recover in kernel contextData Cache DataRead Error - The following entries are observed in the
/var/run/log/vmkernel.logfile on the ESXi host:YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.FFFZ cpu##:40848027)ALERT: MCA: 200: SRAR Excp G7 B1 ###### Cache Hierarchy: Level 0 Data Cache DataRead Error.YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.FFFZ cpu##:40848027)MCAIntel: 1120: Force retiring MPN ###### to recover from MCA error detected by cpu## in ####.YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.FFFZ cpu##:40848027)ALERT: MCA: 200: SRAR Excp G7 B1 ###### Cache Hierarchy: Level 0 Data Cache DataRead Error.YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.FFFZ cpu##:40848027)MCAIntel: 1120: Force retiring MPN ######to recover from MCA error detected by cpu## in ####. - The error can also be caused by a failing hardware device. In such cases, the PSOD screen may report an error similar to the following:
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.FFFZ cpu##:########)IDT: ### : Uncorrectable/unrecoverable machine check errorYYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.FFFZ cpu##:########)MCA: ### : UC Excp G4 86 Sbb###########e#b AB M###### P8/8 I/O error reported by PCI ####:##:##.#.
Environment
- VMware vSphere ESXi 7.x / 8.x / 9.x
- VMware Cloud Foundation 4.x / 5.x / 9.x
- Cisco UCS, Dell PowerEdge, HPE ProLiant Servers
Cause
The Machine Check Architecture (MCA) is a CPU feature designed to detect and report hardware anomalies. When the hardware detects a critical or fatal condition, it raises a Machine Check Exception (MCE). These exceptions are considered severe and unrecoverable, resulting in an expected ESXi host crash, often resulting in a Purple Screen of Death (PSOD).
In this scenario, the MCE was categorized as an SRAR (Software Recoverable Action Required), which indicates the following:
- Uncorrectable: The error cannot be automatically corrected by hardware.
- Recoverable: A system-level action could theoretically mitigate the issue.
- Action Required: Specific corrective actions, such as terminating the thread accessing the affected Memory Page Number (MPN), are required.
The faulty thread was executing within the vmkernel context and the ESXi host was unable to isolate or terminate it. As a result, the MCE was escalated to a fatal system error, causing the ESXi host to crash.
Resolution
- Engage Hardware Vendor: Contact the server OEM (e.g., Cisco, Dell, HPE). Provide the PSOD screenshot and exported System Event Logs (SEL/IPMI).
- Review Management Logs: Inspect the hardware management interface (CIMC/iDRAC/ILO) for uncorrectable memory errors or CPU bank errors.
- Update BIOS/Firmware: Verify the host is compliant with the VMware Compatibility Guide. Apply missing BIOS updates to resolve known microcode stability issues.
- Reboot: Restart the host to attempt temporary service restoration.
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