VMware Cloud Community
AndyShine
Enthusiast
Enthusiast
Jump to solution

Hyperthreading + 4 core Intel proccessor = License upgrade?

I'm thinking about installing ESX 4.0 Enterprise on a dual processor Intel 4 core (Nehelam) server (bl460c g6). Enterprise supports up to 6 cores per processor.

However If I turn on hyperthreading will ESX see this as 8 cores per cpu and thus require me to upgrade to Enterprise Plus.

Thanks

Andrew

Reply
0 Kudos
1 Solution

Accepted Solutions
TomHowarth
Leadership
Leadership
Jump to solution

This very question was put to VMware during a VMware Roundtable, the response was that Core are cores and HT are not so are not licensed.

If you found this or any other answer useful please consider the use of the Helpful or correct buttons to award points

Tom Howarth VCP / vExpert

VMware Communities User Moderator

Blog: www.planetvm.net

Contributing author for the upcoming book "[VMware vSphere and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and the Virtual Environment|http://my.safaribooksonline.com/9780136083214]”. Currently available on roughcuts

Tom Howarth VCP / VCAP / 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

View solution in original post

Reply
0 Kudos
7 Replies
TomHowarth
Leadership
Leadership
Jump to solution

No you are good to go, ESX sees cores as cores and HT as HT so it will only register the 4 cores.

If you found this or any other answer useful please consider the use of the Helpful or correct buttons to award points

Tom Howarth VCP / vExpert

VMware Communities User Moderator

Blog: www.planetvm.net

Contributing author for the upcoming book "[VMware vSphere and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and the Virtual Environment|http://my.safaribooksonline.com/9780136083214]”. Currently available on roughcuts

Tom Howarth VCP / VCAP / 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
Reply
0 Kudos
AntonVZhbankov
Immortal
Immortal
Jump to solution

I suppose even in this case you still have 4 cores CPU, so no need to upgrade. HT are not real cores.


---

VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

EMCCAe, HPE ASE, MCITP: SA+VA, VCP 3/4/5, VMware vExpert XO (14 stars)
VMUG Russia Leader
http://t.me/beerpanda
Reply
0 Kudos
AndyShine
Enthusiast
Enthusiast
Jump to solution

To

Thanks for your reply. I think your probably right. Unfortunately I recieved this response from Vmware Technical support when I ask them the same question:

""As I understand, you are planning to install ESX 4.0 on a dual processor 4 core, you would like to know that if you turn on hyperthreading will ESX recognize it as 8 cores per CPU and thus you need to upgrade to Enterprise plus or not.

I would like to inform you that vSphere license can support upto 6 cores per Processor, hence you would need to upgrade to Enterprise plus."

(Anybody from Vmware like to comment? Perhaps one of your employees needs a little extra tutoring...? :smileysilly: )

Regards

Andrew

Reply
0 Kudos
TomHowarth
Leadership
Leadership
Jump to solution

This very question was put to VMware during a VMware Roundtable, the response was that Core are cores and HT are not so are not licensed.

If you found this or any other answer useful please consider the use of the Helpful or correct buttons to award points

Tom Howarth VCP / vExpert

VMware Communities User Moderator

Blog: www.planetvm.net

Contributing author for the upcoming book "[VMware vSphere and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and the Virtual Environment|http://my.safaribooksonline.com/9780136083214]”. Currently available on roughcuts

Tom Howarth VCP / VCAP / 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
Reply
0 Kudos
AndyShine
Enthusiast
Enthusiast
Jump to solution

I just got a voice mail from Technical support that they haven't got any documentation to support their original reply to my question :smileygrin: so I'm marking your response as Correct!

Thanks

Andrew

Reply
0 Kudos
TiBoReR
Enthusiast
Enthusiast
Jump to solution

We can active hyperthreading on quad-core processors ? Didn't know that. Always been thinking hyperthreading was no more used with the dual-core entrance...

Reply
0 Kudos
TomHowarth
Leadership
Leadership
Jump to solution

Intel have re-introduced HT with the Nahelem chips.

If you found this or any other answer useful please consider the use of the Helpful or correct buttons to award points

Tom Howarth VCP / vExpert

VMware Communities User Moderator

Blog: www.planetvm.net

Contributing author for the upcoming book "[VMware vSphere and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and the Virtual Environment|http://my.safaribooksonline.com/9780136083214]”. Currently available on roughcuts

Tom Howarth VCP / VCAP / 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
Reply
0 Kudos