How to Enable EVC

VMware's Enhanced VMotion Compatibility (EVC) feature is an updated version of VMware's VMotion technology. VMotion is the literal movement of virtual machines. The technology allows VMware ESX server systems to use computing resources efficiently among a network of physical computers by moving the virtual machine from one server to another instantly and without downtime. VMotion was limited in hardware support because all machines inside the cluster had to have similar hardware and capabilities to prevent the system from malfunctioning. EVC is an upgraded technology that allows physical servers with radically different configurations to operate under a VMotion cluster by limiting all clustered machines to the capacity of their weakest member.

Things You'll Need

• Processor with Intel VT or AMD-V support
• Motherboard with execute protection disabled (Consult your BIOS configuration manual)

Instructions

1. Open the VMWare ESX application from your Start menu.

2. Click "Edit," then "Cluster Settings."

3. Click "VMware EVC" on the left panel.

4. Click "Change."

5. Click "Enable EVC For AMD Hosts" if you have an AMD-based cluster. Click "Enable EVC for Intel Hosts" if you have an Intel-based cluster.

6. Click "OK" to apply your changes. Your cluster is now enabled for VMotion.

References

• VMware: Enhanced Compatibility VMotion processor support
• VMware: VMotion FAQ
• Virtualization Team: VMware EVC