Accepted Solutions
Hi,
In general terms, If your environment is working well, you don't need to change it.
however, in a production environment, it really depends.
If your workloads are such that they would benefit from larger packets, (Media streams / large files / high IO large packet workloads) then yes switching to Jumbo frames may give you a small efficiency gain.
I would also recommend getting with your switch vendor (Cisco/HP/etc) and seeing if they have a method of advising you on that front.
If you are using an unmanaged device (Dave_the_Wave describes them as "stuff they find from their local BestBuy" 
) then you really need to find out what they are capable of doing and if they are the right choice for your business infrastructure.
Read more: Maximum transmission unit - Wikipedia
"A larger MTU brings greater efficiency because each network packet carries more user data while protocol overheads, such as headers or underlying per-packet delays, remain fixed; the resulting higher efficiency means an improvement in bulk protocol throughput. A larger MTU also means processing of fewer packets for the same amount of data. In some systems, per-packet-processing can be a critical performance limitation. However, this gain is not without a downside. Large packets occupy a slow link for more time than a smaller packet, causing greater delays to subsequent packets, and increasing network delay and delay variation."
So again it depends entirely on your workload and if your infrastructure can support it.
Wow. I had to look this one up.
I was unaware that MTU was even a thing for VMware.
I thought it was only something amongst routers and modems and trying all you can to squeeze every bit of advertised bandwidth from the ISP.
I'd like to append to your question:
Do I need change MTU value... for a Cisco Catalyst Switch or a HP ProCurve Switch?
Generally: No.
I mean, most folks are using stuff they find from their local BestBuy, and that stuff doesn't let you change its MTU, or even have an IP address for you to try.
The vSwitch0 generally is fine default.
I have never medelled in it and I have ran all sorts of VMs with that, 2003/2008/2012 and all its R2's, 2016, 7, 8.1, 10, and a myriad of fun templates that you find out there on the interweb.
According to:
"Change the size of the maximum transmission unit (MTU) on a vSphere Standard Switch to improve the networking efficiency by increasing the amount of payload data transmitted with a single packet, that is, enabling jumbo frames."
I think there needs to be an uber very specific reason as to why a vSwitch0's MTU should be changed, an answer that can only come from the said thing that wants it and needs it.
Are you simply trying to "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger"?
That's going to (mostly) come from hardware. Moar CPU, extra Physical Adapters, avoiding WD Green drives, and certainly not using switches from BestBuy for your "production environment".
Kindly please tell us exactly and specifically why you feel you "need change MTU value in my production enviroment"?
Hi,
In general terms, If your environment is working well, you don't need to change it.
however, in a production environment, it really depends.
If your workloads are such that they would benefit from larger packets, (Media streams / large files / high IO large packet workloads) then yes switching to Jumbo frames may give you a small efficiency gain.
I would also recommend getting with your switch vendor (Cisco/HP/etc) and seeing if they have a method of advising you on that front.
If you are using an unmanaged device (Dave_the_Wave describes them as "stuff they find from their local BestBuy" ) then you really need to find out what they are capable of doing and if they are the right choice for your business infrastructure.
Read more: Maximum transmission unit - Wikipedia
"A larger MTU brings greater efficiency because each network packet carries more user data while protocol overheads, such as headers or underlying per-packet delays, remain fixed; the resulting higher efficiency means an improvement in bulk protocol throughput. A larger MTU also means processing of fewer packets for the same amount of data. In some systems, per-packet-processing can be a critical performance limitation. However, this gain is not without a downside. Large packets occupy a slow link for more time than a smaller packet, causing greater delays to subsequent packets, and increasing network delay and delay variation."
So again it depends entirely on your workload and if your infrastructure can support it.