Host Hardware status intermittently displays the alert: Processor 2 Status 0: IERR

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• On Dell and IBM Servers with Nehalem CPUs, the VMware vSphere Client reports CPU IERRs
• Host Hardware status intermittently displays the alert:
  
  Processor 2 Status 0: IERR
  
  
• The system event log does not have any errors
• In the /var/log/vmkernel.log or /var/log/messages.log file, you see entries similar to:
  
  kernel: IPMI message handler: BMC returned incorrect response, expected netfn 7 cmd 35, got netfn 31 cmd 17
  kernel: IPMI message handler: BMC returned incorrect response, expected netfn 7 cmd 35, got netfn 31 cmd 17
  kernel: IPMI message handler: BMC returned incorrect response, expected netfn 7 cmd 35, got netfn 31 cmd 17
  kernel: IPMI message handler: BMC returned incorrect response, expected netfn 7 cmd 35, got netfn 31 cmd 17
  kernel: IPMI message handler: BMC returned incorrect response, expected netfn 7 cmd 35, got netfn 31 cmd 17
  kernel: IPMI message handler: BMC returned incorrect response, expected netfn 7 cmd 35, got netfn 31 cmd 17
  kernel: IPMI message handler: BMC returned incorrect response, expected netfn 7 cmd 35, got netfn 31 cmd 17
  kernel: IPMI message handler: BMC returned incorrect response, expected netfn 7 cmd 35, got netfn 31 cmd 17
  kernel: IPMI message handler: BMC returned incorrect response, expected netfn 7 cmd 35, got netfn b cmd 42

Environment

VMware ESXi 4.1.x Embedded
VMware ESXi 4.0.x Embedded
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.5
VMware ESXi 4.1.x Installable
VMware ESX 4.0.x
VMware ESXi 4.0.x Installable
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.1
VMware ESX 4.1.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.0

Resolution

To resolve this issue, or for further assistance, contact your hardware vendor.

 

For Dell customers, contact Dell Support and quote the Product Support Quick Note (PSQN) ID 91847: System with Nehalem CPUs may experience CPU IERRs when using ESX/ESXi 4.0.0 in a support request.

For IBM customers using IBM HS22 servers, install the system pack provided at UpdateXpress System Pack for VMware. (Select the version of ESXi/ESX and IBM system from this page).

 

For other vendors or models, contact your respective hardware vendor to determine if any system update packages are available and can be applied.