vSphere 5.5 cluster wirth Dell Intel Xeon E5 2670 & HP DELL 380 G7 Intel® Xeon® X5690 - Compatibility?

We have several mixed clusters using different CPU generations, and the same as you....

This raises an interesting question, EVC is a function which easily allows you to vMotion VMs from Hosts with different CPU generations, E5 2670 and  X5690, but in doing so, you'll lose ALL the new functionality of the E5 2670 in your VMs, when you apply the EVC mask!

So EVC is a COMPROMISE....

Some would say, do not use EVC just for the sake of adding a G7, and purchase new Servers ALL with the same generation CPU, but we all have budgets.....

So do you need the nice new features of your E5 2670, can you make do with just the features of the X5690.

so you will have a Westmere EVC setting, rather than Ivy Bridge.

We have recently built clusters, with like technology...so no EVC.

(EVC is only required to move LIVE machines between hosts!)

Here's an article here by Derek, which discusses the subject....of know your applications and servers...

http://www.derekseaman.com/2012/09/how-much-does-evc-mode-matter-and-which.html

We've found for VDI (Windows 8.1 and Mac OS X it makes a difference)

We also found Intel Virtualisation functions, were not available if we downed the EVC mode....

So check your requirements.....and EVC away....

Also with VMware FT - Processors *MUST* be of the same generation.

EVC is a vMotion Cluster function. (e.g. DRS).

see here
http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1008027

Thanks for your reply!

The cluster will have to be setup with EV Westermre because of the family of the lower processor  X5690, correct? What features I am going to have available then?

Westmere

i3/i5 Clarkdale
 34xx Clarkdale
 36xx Series
 56xx Series
 E7-2800 Series
 E7-4800 Series
 E7-8800 Seriee
 Core i7-620LE

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Besides FT which we do not use what other features am I going to lose by not going with E5 2670 EVC Ivy Bridge?

Just trying to undestand before making a deicision...

Thanks again.