S2600-CP2 vmware ESXi 5.5 hangs on ACPI initialization -- Boot loop

Hi all,

I recently upgraded the firmware of a working S2600CP2 server running VMWare ESXi 5.5 build 1474528 and VMWare now gets stuck on the initialization of ACPI.  After about a minute or two of being stuck on the initialization of ACPI, the server reboots as if the reset button was pushed on the front of the server, basically resulting in a boot-loop.

System BIOS  - 02.02.0002

  ME Firmware  - 02.01.07.328

  BMC Firmware - 01.20 r5446

  FRUSDR       - 1.10

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=23610&keyword=S2600Cp&lang=eng

Here is a screenshot of the server info after the upgradepboot

Vmware hang screen-shot