PowerEdge: PCIe Multi-Segment support stance on Dell PowerEdge servers and VMware ESXi

PCIe Multi-Segment is a feature introduced in Dell’s 17^th generation of servers based on AMD Turin processors. PCIe Multi-Segment provides scalability by supporting more PCIe devices by having multiple segments and each of them having multiple PCIe bus segments.

This KB is created to mention about VMware ESXi support stance for PCIe Multi-Segment support. Dell supports ESXi 8.0 Update3 on their 17^th generation of AMD servers based on Turin processors. To begin with, Dell supports PE R7715 and R6715 one socket servers with ESXi 8.0 Update 3. Starting from April'2025 onwards, Dell support PE R7725 and R6725 two socket servers as well for VMware ESXi 8.0 Update 3.

Latest versions of ESXi 8.0 Update3 (8.0U3e and above) and 9.0 support PCIe Multi-Segment on Dell PowerEdge servers For older ESXi versions, it is required to disable the PCIe Multi-Segment option in the server BIOS as noted below. It is possible to experience symptoms such as Purple Screen of Death(PSOD) or ESXi stop responding scenarios if PCIe Multi-Segment is set to be enabled with ESXi versions prior to 8.0U3e. 

Traverse to server BIOS settings, select Processor Settings, set One Segment as the value for the PCI Multi-Segment Support. Save the changes, reboot the system, and install VMware ESXi.