Mismatched Processors problem (LH6000)

[Lee Naik]

Hi,

My client has two quad processor LH6000 servers that have the following error logged in the MS Windows 2000 Advanced Server event log.

"The CPUs in this multiprocessor system are not all the same revision level. To use all processors the operating system restricts itself to the features of the least capable processor in the system."

The Microsoft System Information(SI) Tool provides the following information:
One server has
1x x86 Family 6 Model 10 Stepping 1 ~700Mhz
3x x86 Family 6 Model 10 Stepping 4 ~700Mhz

The second server has
1x x86 Family 6 Model 10 Stepping 1 ~699Mhz
1x x86 Family 6 Model 10 Stepping 4 ~700Mhz
2x x86 Family 6 Model 10 Stepping 1 ~700Mhz

The servers are intended to host MS SQL databases for a high transaction volume web-based application.

Can someone please indicate the impact of this processor configurations and the course of action that I should pursue.

Regards.

[Martin Breidenbach]

There's a MS knowledgebase artice about that message:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;227438

From that page:

===================================
SUMMARY

If the CPUs in your computer are not all at the same stepping level, Windows writes an informational message to the Event log. When this occurs, you do not receive an error message on the screen.

MORE INFORMATION

The information written to the Event log is similar to the sample text below. In the following sample, events 6005 and 6009 indicate that the event log has been started and the revision of Windows 2000 that is in use. The third entry exists if the CPU stepping levels are mismatched. Generally, this is not a problem. But, it is recommended that you contact the OEM (Orginal Equipment Manufacturer) for specific recommendations on operating in a mixed stepping environment.
===================================

[Roderick Young]

I'm pretty sure there is no one that would guarantee the mixed stepping will work.

However, there's no general buzz about this kind of thing EVER causing a problem. A lot of calls and fear when MS first started issuing such a message (I don't think NT ever made such a complaint). And Intel's general policy, if I remember right, is that minor steppings (A0, A1, A2, etc) will always work together, but no guarantee on major changes (A2 with B0, for example).

That 699 MHz is just an artifact, all the processors are really 700. If you were paranoid, you could move all the stepping 1 to one machine, and stepping 4 to the other, I suppose.

[Mark Young_2]

According to HP, this message is informational only.

HP supports mixed stepping with multiple CPU's unless you are using the server in a clustered environment.

If you go to http://isupport2.hp.com and do a search for document: IS5815

One point though: You want to be sure that all of the CPU's have the same size cache, which I believe you do because you would get another message in Windows.

[Ryan Consol]

I am currently experiencing the same issue on a ML 530 G2 server and I can not get to the document that you refer to. (IS5815) Can you please post the new document number or a link to it explaining that the different steped processors are okay to work with each other. I need to have difinitive proof before I continue building this server.

Thanks
Ryan

RCONSOL@USG.COM

[malvin drakley]

This is the document that HP sent me in 2002 when I asked the same question
hope this helps
malvin