Which feature allows a company to leverage new processor features while keeping certain VMs on a specific CPU type?

The ability to leverage new processor features while maintaining compatibility for specific virtual machines (VMs) relies on the use of Per-VM Enhanced vMotion Compatibility (EVC). This feature allows individual VMs to utilize different EVC settings compared to the overall cluster configuration. By doing so, it enables organizations to take advantage of the latest CPU features for newly deployed VMs without impacting older VMs that are reliant on specific CPU types or structures.

In the context of virtualization, maintaining compatibility across various CPU generations is essential, especially in environments where hardware evolves rapidly. Per-VM EVC provides granularity by allowing each VM to have its own compatibility setting, meaning newer VMs can fully utilize enhanced features while older VMs can still function without issues. This flexibility is particularly valuable in scenarios such as gradual hardware upgrades or mixed-CPU environments.

Cluster-Level EVC, while related to CPU compatibility, applies settings at the cluster level rather than offering the fine-tuning that Per-VM EVC does. As for vSphere High Availability and vSphere vMotion, these features primarily focus on VM availability and migration capabilities, respectively, without specific mechanisms to manage processor feature compatibility on a per-VM basis.