Top 10 things you must read about processors (CPUs) and virtualization By Eric Siebert published: Friday, November 14 2008
The
CPU is the heart of an ESX host server as it provides the processing muscle for
all the virtual machines competing for this valuable resource. Therefore it is
important to know how physical processors compare to virtual processors and how
CPU scheduling occurs on an ESX host. It’s also important to understand the new
processor virtualization technologies from both Intel and AMD that offer many
benefits to virtualized workloads. The items on this list include documents
that cover how the CPU scheduler works, when to use virtual SMP, choosing
between Intel and AMD processors and white papers from Intel and AMD describing
their new processor virtualization technologies.
ESX
Server CPU Scheduling (VMworld 2007)
http://vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11026
A
VMworld 2007 presentation (free registration required) on CPU scheduling that
covers how it works, performance tips, how to use ESXTOP for analysis and using
resource controls.
ESX Server 2 Best Practices Using Vmware
Virtual SMP
http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsmp_best_practices.pdf
A
white paper from VMware that provides information on when and when not to use
vSMP with virtual machines and also covers best practices for using vSMP.
AMD-VTM
Nested Paging
http://developer.amd.com/assets/NPT-WP-1%201-final-TM.pdf
A white paper from AMD that
discusses the existing software-based paging virtualization solutions
and their associated performance overheads. It also introduces AMD-VTM Rapid
Virtualization Indexing technology (nested paging) and highlights its advantages
and demonstrates the performance uplift that may be seen with nested paging.
Intel®
Virtualization Technology (VT) in Converged Application Platforms
http://www3.intel.com/design/intarch/papers/316337.pdf
A
white paper from Intel that describes the architecture behind Intel's VT
technology and how it can benefit virtualized applications.
Intel,
AMD, VMware and Aircrafts
http://it20.info/blogs/main/archive/2007/10/15/68.aspx
A
great article from Massimo Re Ferre that covers the important things that you
should now when choosing between Intel and AMD processors for your servers.
ESX
scheduler support for SMP VMs: co-scheduling and more
http://blogs.vmware.com/performance/2008/06/esx-scheduler-s.html
A
good blog post from VMware's VROOM performance team on using multi-processor
VMs and how CPU co-scheduling works in ESX.
Co-scheduling
SMP VMs in VMware ESX Server
http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-4960
A
document from VMware that explains what CPU co-scheduling is, how it works and
the differences between strict and relaxed co-scheduling.
VMkernel
Scheduler
http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-5501
A document from VMware that provides
details on how the VMkernel CPU scheduler works.
How
to be a Good Guest - (VMworld 2007)
http://vmworld.com/vmworld/mylearn?classID=11698
A
VMworld 2007 presentation (free registration required) given by AMD that covers
CPU features and the challenges of using VMotion across different CPU types and
how badly written software can cause problems.
ESX
Server 3 Ready Time Observations
http://www.vmware.com/pdf/esx3_ready_time.pdf
A
white paper from VMware that covers what ready time is, how it affects CPU
scheduling, how to measure it and interpret the measurements.
Related Links:
Complete 'Top 10' Collection, Top 10 things you must read about VMware HA, Top 10 things you must read about virtualization and compliance , Will Microsoft Sunset VMware - A Second Look
Eric Siebert is a 25-year IT veteran with experience in programming,
networking, telecom and systems administration. He is a guru-status
moderator on the VMware community VMTN
forum and maintains VMware-land.com,
a VI3 information site.
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