VMware

This Question is Answered

1 "helpful" answer available (6 pts)
3 Replies Last post: May 22, 2009 9:01 AM by chriswaltham  

Creating VMs to stress hosts? posted: May 21, 2009 6:16 PM

Click to view chriswaltham's profile Enthusiast
chriswaltham
51 posts since
Nov 5, 2007
I'm trying to chase down a problem that I'm experiencing between my ESX hosts and my storage (NetApp via NFS). I think that the problem happens under load, so I've built a test ESX host -- what's the easiest way to create a handful of VMs and really pound CPU, RAM, disk and network? Are there applications or even appliances that could do this for me? I'm not so much interested in statistics as I am to see whether or not I can reproduce the problems I'm seeing...
Tags: 3.5

Re: Creating VMs to stress hosts?

1. May 21, 2009 6:24 PM in response to: chriswaltham
Click to view etung's profile Guru VMware Employees
etung
11,255 posts since
Oct 15, 2006
I'm not an expert in this area, but some things come to mind.

  • Your favorite overclocking site will probably have programs to stress CPU.
  • Memtest should stress RAM.
  • Iometer should stress I/O.
  • Bittorrent (something legal, of course) might stress network, provided you have a good enough connection.

VMmark would be something else to look into, but I'm not sure how easy it is to set up.

Of course, it would be better if you could use whatever you suspect is triggering the problem.

Re: Creating VMs to stress hosts?

2. May 22, 2009 1:04 AM in response to: chriswaltham
Click to view depping's profile Champion VMware Employees User Moderators
depping
3,153 posts since
Jan 17, 2005
VMmark? It's most definitely a tool designed to create VM based load: http://www.vmware.com/products/vmmark/

Duncan
VMware Communities User Moderator | VCP | VCDX

Blogging: http://www.yellow-bricks.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/depping

If you find this information useful, please award points for "correct" or "helpful".

Re: Creating VMs to stress hosts?

3. May 22, 2009 9:01 AM in response to: depping
Click to view chriswaltham's profile Enthusiast
chriswaltham
51 posts since
Nov 5, 2007
Thanks guys! I can't believe I missed VMmark.

Actions

VMware Beta Programs

Want to be Considered for Future Beta Programs?

Learn More

VMware Developer

Download SDKs, APIs, videos,
training, and more in the Developer community.

Learn More

Developer
Sample Code

Increase your developer productivity with VMware API sample code.

Learn More

VMworld
Sessions & Labs

Online access to the latest VMworld Sessions & Labs and online services.

Learn more

Purchase PSO Credits Online

Purchase credits to redeem training and consulting services online.

Buy Now

Community Hardware Software

View reported configurations or report your own.

Learn More

Only VMware ... Delivers Nexus 1000V

Ensure consistent, policy-based network capabilities to virtual machines across your data center.

Learn More

Communities