Keeping a VM on only 1-2 ESX hosts in a cluster

[khughes]

We have a 4 host cluster, where 2 of the hosts are better servers than the other 2 hosts. My boss would like to keep one of his servers on only the more powerful ESX hosts, is there any way to do this besides keeping an eye on it? I know DRS only makes rules with keeping servers either together or apart.

[RParker]

2 ways to do it. either setup the swap file to use the local storage of the host, rather than with the VM folder, or set the DVD/CD drive to enabled, and set it to device on the host. That will keep it from moving off.

There is no way to set an affiinity for VM's to keep them off, only apart or together as you found.

[caciolli]

I never tried that :

Create an additional port group on those two hosts (faster), connect some vm to that port group. This will prevent automatic/manual vmotion on slower hosts.

This also prevent restart vms in case both faster hosts fail, if using HA.

[khughes]

By enabling the CD/DVD drive on the host drive, would that impact HA and how it would be moved if that server crashed?

[khughes]

Thanks guys for your responses, it looks like the best practice we'll need is to just watch where we move this VM and keep a mental note of where we move it.

[Troy_Clavell]

isn't it just as simple as disabling DRS on the particular VM's you don't want to go anywhere? Right Click on the cluster, edit settings, Virtual Machine Opitons and change automation level to disabled or manual.

[khughes]

Its not that I want it to be out of DRS's control, just would like for it not to be on the 2 less powerful ESX hosts. Forcing it to stay on one server is an option but one I don't particularly care for. My thought was if there was a way to just say, this vm within the drs pool can only be on esx1 or esx2, but dont let it run on esx3 or esx4.

[williamarrata]

I think another easy way can be;

vmotion the VM the the host you desire, then right click on cluster and click on edit settings. There click on Virtual Machine Options. Type in VM name and drag mouse over Automation Level. There you have a choice to disable it or whatever you'd like. And that way you don't affect any other VM DRS Rules.

Hope that helped.