Intel Processor Issue VM Running ESX(i) 5.x or Microsoft Hyper-V

Helient Systems LLC would like to make all of our clients aware of a recently discovered Intel processor issue where Virtual Machines (VM’s) running on ESX(i) 5.x or Microsoft Hyper-V may experience a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) in a Windows virtual machine or kernel panic in a Linux virtual machine. This issue affects Dell & HP servers running Intel Xeon E5-2400 series v2, Intel Xeon E5-2600 series v2, Intel Xeon E5-4600 series v2, Intel Xeon E7-4800 v2 series v2 and Intel Xeon E7-8800 series v2 processors.

This issue does NOT affect servers configured with Intel Xeon E5-2400 series, Intel Xeon E5-2600 series, or Intel Xeon E5-6000 series processors.

Dell and HP have provided a list of servers that may be affected if running a System ROM revision dated earlier than indicated when using impacted processors:

•  Dell PowerEdge R720/R720-xd – earlier than version 2.2.3 (05/30/2014)

•  HP ProLiant DL160 Gen8- earlier than J03 (02/10/2014 )
• HP ProLiant ML350e Gen8 – earlier than J02 (02/10/2014)
• HP ProLiant DL380p Gen8- earlier than P70 (02/10/2014 )
• HP ProLiant DL360p Gen8 -earlier than P71 (02/10/2014 )
• HP ProLiant ML350p Gen8 -earlier than P72 (02/10/2014)
• HP ProLiant DL360e Gen8- earlier than P73(02/10/2014 )
• HP ProLiant DL380e Gen8-earlier than P73 (02/10/2014 )
• HP ProLiant SL230s Gen8- earlier than P75 (02/10/2014 )
• HP ProLiant SL250s Gen8- earlier than P75 (02/10/2014 )
• HP ProLiant SL270s Gen8-earlier than P75 (02/10/2014 )
• HP ProLiant DL560 Gen8- earlier than P77 (02/10/2014 )
• HP ProLiant SL4540 Gen8- earlier than P74 (02/10/2014)
• HP ProLiant SL210t Gen8- earlier than P83 (02/10/2014 )
• HP ProLiant BL420c Gen8- earlier than I30 (02/10/2014 )
• HP ProLiant BL460c Gen8- earlier than I31 (02/10/2014 )
• HP ProLiant BL660c Gen8- earlier than I32 (02/10/2014 )
• HP ProLiant DL580 Gen8- earlier than P79 (04/01/2014 )

RESOLUTION:

The issue is resolved by updating the Server BIOS / System ROM to the most current version or the versions indicated below:

• Dell PowerEdge R720/R720-xd – 2.2.3 (05/30/2014 or later)

• HP ProLiant DL160 Gen8 – J03 (02/10/2014 or later)
• HP ProLiant ML350e Gen8 – J02 (02/10/2014 or later)
• HP ProLiant DL380p Gen8 – P70 (02/10/2014 or later)
• HP ProLiant DL360p Gen8 – P71 (02/10/2014 or later)
• HP ProLiant ML350p Gen8 – P72 (02/10/2014 or later)
• HP ProLiant DL360e Gen8 – P73(02/10/2014 or later)
• HP ProLiant DL380e Gen8 – P73 (02/10/2014 or later)
• HP ProLiant SL230s Gen8 – P75 (02/10/2014 or later)
• HP ProLiant SL250s Gen8 – P75 (02/10/2014 or later)
• HP ProLiant SL270s Gen8 – P75 (02/10/2014 or later)
• HP ProLiant DL560 Gen8 – P77 (02/10/2014 or later)
• HP ProLiant SL4540 Gen8 – P74 (02/10/2014 or later)
• HP ProLiant SL210t Gen8 – P83 (02/10/2014 or later)
• HP ProLiant BL420c Gen8 – I30 (02/10/2014 or later)
• HP ProLiant BL460c Gen8 – I31 (02/10/2014 or later)
• HP ProLiant BL660c Gen8 – I32 (02/10/2014 or later)
• HP ProLiant DL580 Gen8 – P79 (04/01/2014 or later)

Helient is always available to assist with identifying and remediating affected systems if needed. 

To download the BIOS upgrades for HP Servers and Blades, click here.

To download the BIOS upgrades for Dell Servers and Blades, click here.

For more information, please contact Steve Hatch at shatch@helient.com.