A 2U rack-mounted virtualization host that has been running VMware ESXi 8.0 without incident was updated from system BIOS version 2.3.0 to 2.6.1 during a scheduled maintenance window. Within a few hours of the change, the server begins rebooting with a purple-screen-of-death (PSOD) that references uncorrectable memory errors. Hardware diagnostics, reseating DIMMs, and clearing NVRAM do not correct the problem, and the vendor has posted an advisory withdrawing BIOS 2.6.1 and instructing customers to use BIOS 2.3.0 until a corrected image is published. The host is part of a vSphere HA cluster, and all virtual machines can be live-migrated to other nodes.
Which of the following actions is the BEST next step in your troubleshooting process to restore host stability?
Downgrade the server's BIOS to version 2.3.0 during the next maintenance window.
Replace all memory modules with vendor-approved spares and rerun hardware diagnostics.
Reinstall ESXi on the local boot device to eliminate any corrupted system files.
Disable Turbo Boost and power-saving features in the BIOS to reduce load on the memory controller.
The crashes began only after the new BIOS was applied, and the vendor has already confirmed that this revision should be withdrawn. Rolling back to the last known-good firmware version directly addresses the probable cause while introducing the least additional risk. Because the host belongs to an HA cluster, workloads can be relocated so the downgrade can be performed during a short maintenance window.
Swapping DIMMs or replacing system boards treats the symptom as a hardware fault rather than the recently introduced firmware bug, consuming unnecessary time and parts. Re-installing ESXi targets the operating system, yet the hypervisor and storage have tested clean and the problem emerged before any OS files were changed. Disabling power-management features may mask certain timing issues, but it is speculative, leaves the faulty firmware in place, and can reduce performance. Therefore, restoring the previous BIOS version is the most effective and efficient corrective step.
Ask Bash
Bash is our AI bot, trained to help you pass your exam. AI Generated Content may display inaccurate information, always double-check anything important.
Why does the vendor recommend downgrading the BIOS?
Open an interactive chat with Bash
What is a purple-screen-of-death (PSOD) in VMware environments?
Open an interactive chat with Bash
How does a vSphere High Availability (HA) cluster help in this situation?