VMWARE Host Purple Screen of Death

Looks like a memory issue to me...

what server is this running on?  is it supported?
any custom images being used?
is the firmware for the system current?

There is also a patch which relates to the specific error message you are getting - might be worth getting this and updating...

It looks like the error relates to the PageFile for VMware, so it is possibly either memory or HDD related.

#PF Exception 14 patch

Often, when PSOD occur, it's due to a hardware or driver issues.

1. Check Hardware, Run Diagnostics, Run Memtest86+ for memory.

2. Check CPUs, Heatsinks and Fans

3. Check no new hardware has been added.

4. Check the Hardware is certified for use with ESXi 5.5.

see the HCL

Check the VMware Hardware Compatability Lists HCL here

The VMware Hardware Compatibility List is the detailed lists showing actual vendor devices that are either physically tested or are similar to the devices tested by VMware or VMware partners. Items on the list are tested with VMware products and are known to operate correctly.Devices which are not on the list may function, but will not be supported by VMware.

http://www.vmware.com/go/hcl

5. Update ALL BIOS and firmware for the hardware from the latest Smartstart Firmware DVD.

6. Make sure the OEM HP version of ESXi 5.5 is in use, download from HP/VMware site.

This server has been up and running perfectly for over a year.  The only new changes recently have been upgrades to Windows Server 2012 R2.  It may be a driver issue with the new OS.  I saw a KB article on VMWare that speaks to the NIC Driver (specifically E1000e).  Is there a way to look at the Nic to see what driver it is using from the Edit Settings console?  I see three options for nics.  E1000, E1000e and VMNic3.  Any suggestions on which to use?

You SHOULD always always always use the VMXNET3.

It's been that way since, forever....

Use the E1000 for installation, and then switch it...to VMXNET3.

I wouldn't have thought that upgrading one of the internal VMs would cause a PSOD though, sounds much more like hardware to me...

2 mayor updates are released to ESXi 5.5 since you installed it.

Look at the top of backtrace? What do you see?

I see the crash message listed world ID 33111, if your log file location is persistant, you could check your vmkernel and VM specific logs to see which VM was using this world ID at the time of the crash.

As other have suggest you could try and change the NIC type of VMXNET3 and see if the crashes stop

Thanks Andrew