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15.09.2024
VMWARE CPU OPTIMIZATION: A GUIDE TO MORE EFFICIENT VIRTUALIZATION
In the world of virtualization, optimizing CPU usage is a critical factor in the performance and efficiency of virtual machines (VMs). VMware offers a variety of settings and best practices to get the most out of your CPU resources. In this blog post, we'll look at some key strategies that can help you optimize your VMware environment.
UNDERSTAND YOUR RESOURCES
Before you make any changes, it is important to understand the available CPU resources. Each physical processor (pCPU) in your host can support multiple virtual CPUs (vCPUs). The number of vCPUs that can be assigned to a host depends on the number of physical cores and hyperthreading capability.
START SMALL
A general recommendation is to start with one vCPU per VM and scale up as needed. Assigning too many vCPUs can not only limit resource availability for other VMs, but can also increase CPU wait time (CPU Ready Time).
OVERBOOKING WITH CARE
VMware ESXi allows significant overbooking of CPUs, which means that you can run more vCPUs than there are physical processor cores in the host. However, this should be done with caution as overbooking can affect the performance of the VMs.
NUMA-AWARENESS
When assigning vCPUs to VMs, you should also consider the Non-Uniform Memory Architecture (NUMA). Try to size multiprocessor VMs to fit within a NUMA mode to minimize CPU latency.
MONITORING IS KEY
Monitor the performance indicators of your VMs to ensure that CPU overbooking is not affecting VM performance. Pay attention to metrics such as CPU Ready Time and Co-Stop values to find a balance between performance and resource utilization.
Fig. 1: Overview of all VMs with CPU utilization below 5%
Fig. 2: Detailed view of a VM with a CPU utilization of less than 5%
CONCLUSION
Optimizing CPU usage in VMware environments requires a deep understanding of available resources and careful planning. By applying best practices and continuous monitoring, you can ensure that your VMs run efficiently and perform well.
Remember that every environment is unique - what works for one environment may not necessarily work for another. Experiment, monitor and adjust your settings accordingly to find the optimal configuration for your specific needs.
