Cannot set correct memory limit. Host has 8GB, resource pool will only allow up to 5GB

[SilverNZ]

I am trying to set a memory limit for a resource pool on a host. I can't seem to get it to 6GB. The host has 8GB however it only allows me to set up to 5GB. Any idea why?

[vNEX]

Hi,

every child RP has its parent RP every parent RP has its Root RP (Host or Cluster) ...

Can you please tell us more about your RP hierarchy and its settings? are you trying to set memory limit on parent or child?

Can you also post root parent pool resources availability:

Thanks

P.

[SilverNZ]

Hi,

My parent resource pool is the host. There is no other resource pool on the host either(manually made by me).

The host is freshly installed and has only had minor changes made to it (added to a vCentre, syslogging pointed to the vCentre and the local log directory was changed)

Root resource pool(host level):

You can see I've only been able to set my resource pool to 5GB. The total capacity is only 5539 for some reason? Is it possible the host has reserved memory elsewhere?

What I don't understand is that the memory limit is 8GB under the system resource allocation tree:

[vNEX]

Hi,

you must have some custom reservation set in your System Resource Allocation...expand host RP and collapse remaining RPs so you will see only system resource pools below:

Then click on vim, user and system RPs and check how much memory reserved they have....

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Regards,

P.

[a_p_]

Remember that the ESXi host (the VMkernel) requires some memory too to do its job.

André

[vNEX]

any updates for system resource pools reservations ...?  from my point of view 1/3 of host installed memory for vmkernel overhead (device drivers, services, minfree res. etc.) is quite too much for an empty host.

Can you also post output from ESXTOP regarding memory metrics (m switch).

Thanks

P.

[SilverNZ]

It wouldn't be 3GB for the system though would it?

[SilverNZ]

I haven't changed any system pool reservations(that I know of)

Basically, I'm trying to achieve a scenario where each resource pool can only have 2 VMs powered on at once(I only have one pool at the moment).

The idea is that the resource pool can only consume 8GB of memory, and each VM has a reserved amount of memory (4096mb).

At the moment, each VM has been given 2048mb and the pool has been set to just under 5GB so that the 2 VM limit still works(as I can't set the pool above 5GB)

The screenshot shows my memory limit on two of my VMs, however I'm not sure what the other 4 are(there are two VMs powered on(crossed out) and two powered off which I can't see listed)

[a_p_]

>>> It wouldn't be 3GB for the system though would it?

Adding an ESXi host to an HA cluster requires approximately 2.4GB RAM, which is about the amount that's "missing" in your resource pool settings. According to the screenshots you posted, the ESXi host is managed by vCenter Server, so I assume it's member of an HA cluster!?

André

[SilverNZ]

Ah snap

It seems I have a bit to learn. Yes you are correct, it is part of a vCentre but it's not setup for HA etc (it's just for management).

Can I disable HA?

[SilverNZ]

In saying that. I'm licensed for essentials only. So I'm not sure how HA would be available?

[NealeC]

If you haven't entered/assigned your essentials license keys yet then the hosts will be running in evaluation mode for 60 days, allowing you to test all features. (Similarly with vCenter)

[SilverNZ]

Keys are set: