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1,402 Views 8 Replies Last post: Apr 2, 2009 7:57 AM by weinstein5 RSS
JRP_C++_Java Novice
JRP_C++_Java
16 posts since
Jun 27, 2007
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Mar 24, 2009 1:48 AM

Quad Core CPU - Load Balancing on ESXi

 

Dear All,

 

 

 

 

 

I have a Quad Core CPU and wish to run around 6 vm's, I would like to assign one core per VM (so obviously some of the vm's will share a core). Will ESXi automatically load balance accross the cores or does this need to be configured manually?

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

djciaro Expert
djciaro
322 posts since
Sep 24, 2007
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1. Mar 24, 2009 2:09 AM in response to: JRP_C++_Java
Re: Quad Core CPU - Load Balancing on ESXi

 

I would suggest that you do not assign a core directly to the VMs, use the resource Allocation tab via your VI Client to assign CPU resources to your VMs

 

normally if you specify affinities, you must provide at least as many processor affinities as the number of virtual CPUs in the virtual machine.

 

 

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AntonVZhbankov Guru User Moderators vExpert
AntonVZhbankov
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2. Mar 24, 2009 2:23 AM in response to: JRP_C++_Java
Re: Quad Core CPU - Load Balancing on ESXi

ESXi will balance the load automatically.


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Cooldude09 Master
Cooldude09
948 posts since
May 6, 2008
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3. Mar 24, 2009 2:32 AM in response to: JRP_C++_Java
Re: Quad Core CPU - Load Balancing on ESXi

Trust VMware products...you paid for them...they will take care of it......

 

Regards

Anil

Save the planet, Go Green

 

if you found my answer to be useful, feel free to mark it as Helpful or Correct.

 

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weinstein5 Guru User Moderators vExpert
weinstein5
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4. Mar 24, 2009 3:32 AM in response to: JRP_C++_Java
Re: Quad Core CPU - Load Balancing on ESXi

I will add my voice to the chorus - ESX/ESXi does an excellent job of balancing the load across cpus/cores - there is no need to set CPU affinity and forcing a VM to run on a single core -

 

 

 

 

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Cooldude09 Master
Cooldude09
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May 6, 2008
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5. Mar 24, 2009 3:57 AM in response to: weinstein5
Re: Quad Core CPU - Load Balancing on ESXi

David nows its musical.. :P

 

Regards

Anil

Save the planet, Go Green

 

if you found my answer to be useful, feel free to mark it as Helpful or Correct.

 

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/5/987/995

http://sky-v.blogspot.com/

If U found my answer to be useful, feel free to mark it as Helpful or Correct.
tom howarth Guru User Moderators vExpert
tom howarth
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Jul 25, 2005
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6. Mar 24, 2009 10:19 AM in response to: JRP_C++_Java
Re: Quad Core CPU - Load Balancing on ESXi

do not manually configure CPU affinity, leave ESX to do its own scheduling, you will get better performance.

 

 

 

 

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Tom Howarth VCP / vExpert

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Blog: www.planetvm.net

Contributing author for the upcoming book "VMware Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and the Virtual Environment”.

 

 

Please consider the use of the Helpful or correct buttons to award points to those Answers you found useful or correct. Tom Howarth VCP / vExpert VMware Communities User Moderator Blog: http://www.planetvm.net Contributing author on VMware vSphere and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and the Virtual Environment Contributing author on VCP VMware Certified Professional on VSphere 4 Study Guide: Exam VCP-410
s.kennedy Novice
s.kennedy
7 posts since
Nov 13, 2007
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7. Apr 2, 2009 7:48 AM in response to: JRP_C++_Java
Re: Quad Core CPU - Load Balancing on ESXi

I also have a question about this.

 

I'm running two VM's on ESXi.  One is much more important than the other.  If I reserve 3GHz for it, that ensures it will always have 3GHz.  But will the other server be able to use those cycles if this one is not?

Otherwise I think I'd rather tell the less important server that it can use only two cores, but the important one can use all of them.

 

Thanks

weinstein5 Guru User Moderators vExpert
weinstein5
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Nov 19, 2005
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8. Apr 2, 2009 7:57 AM in response to: s.kennedy
Re: Quad Core CPU - Load Balancing on ESXi

to answer your question yes the other vm would be able to use the other vms reserved memory - but once the vm uses its reservation is it is not given back to the vmkernel until the cm is pwered off for this reason I would use shars - assigning a higer share value to the m that needs cpu this way the vm will get access to the cpu when there is contention for cpu resources - and when the vm does not need the cpu redouces they will be available for the other vm - 

 

 

 

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