Windows Server: 0x7e STOP Error When Using Switch Embedded Teaming and Intel i350 NICs in Windows Server 2022

Consider a PowerEdge server with the following characteristics:

• Windows Server 2022 is the operating system and Hyper-V virtualization is the main server role
• Gigabit Intel i350 Network Interface Cards (NICs) are the primary adapters in use
• Virtual Machine Queues (VMQ) is set to Enabled in the adapter's advanced properties.
• Switch Embedded Teaming (SET) is used to implement the Hyper-V virtual switch.

In such a scenario, the server blue-screens with a STOP error:

0x7E (SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED)

The crash occurs during the execution of the PowerShell cmdlet that implements the Hyper-V virtual switch using Switch Embedded Teaming (SET). After the server is rebooted, the crash occurs randomly.

This condition is documented as an expected behavior. Switch Embedded Teaming is not supported when VMQ is enabled on Intel i350-based NICs.

This is indicated in the Known Issues section of the driver's download page on the Dell Support site (driver version 22.5.0, released on December 1, 2023):

Intel has indicated that SET teaming is not supported when VMQ is enabled on Intel(R) i350-based NICs.

The following workarounds are provided as alternatives if facing this issue:

• Disable VMQ in the adapter's advanced properties in the Windows Server 2022 Device Manager before enabling SET (implementing the Hyper-V virtual switch).
• Do not use SET to implement the Hyper-V virtual switch.