Choosing the right backup solution for your organization can be a daunting task. To make the selection process easier, ask solution providers these 10 key questions.
COURSE of the MONTH
13 days, 17 hours left to enrollBecome a Premium Member and unlock a new, free course in leading technologies each month.
Solved
vCPUs, sockets vs cores, which one to use, when?
Posted on 2012-03-15
Been trying to figure out how to select virtual CPUs for my VM's on an ESXi 5.0 host and am looking for practical advice for a lightweight "home lab" environment, with 3-4 always running VM's and another 2-4 VM's running during weekend "lab time". (Over time the numbers may well increase, of course.)
Am running all Windows OSes at this point, like Win 7 (32 and 64bit), WHS2011, Windows Server 2008, etc. but plan to start adding a few linux VMs in the near future.
I have an Intel i7 (quad core) processor. Depending on the OS, I can select 1 - 8 sockets and 1 - 8 cores in combinations not exceeding a total of 8.
I have 3 questions:
1. Will Windows 7 and WHS 2001 actually make use of multiple CPUs out of the box for standard "user" workloads, e.g. web browsing, editing, including photos, video streaming, etc, or do I need to do some config work to make it work? (just need to know if more work is needed, not the actual work at this point - I can look that up later)
2. If I just want to give a VM 2 vCPU's, should I pick 2 sockets and 1 core over 1 socket and 2 cores or vice versa?
3. With hyperthreading enable do I need to give an extra core for each socket, (or socket for each core??) or does it work regardless of cores/sockets assigned, i.e. will it work with 1 vCPU (1 core on 1 socket)?
Am running all Windows OSes at this point, like Win 7 (32 and 64bit), WHS2011, Windows Server 2008, etc. but plan to start adding a few linux VMs in the near future.
I have an Intel i7 (quad core) processor. Depending on the OS, I can select 1 - 8 sockets and 1 - 8 cores in combinations not exceeding a total of 8.
I have 3 questions:
1. Will Windows 7 and WHS 2001 actually make use of multiple CPUs out of the box for standard "user" workloads, e.g. web browsing, editing, including photos, video streaming, etc, or do I need to do some config work to make it work? (just need to know if more work is needed, not the actual work at this point - I can look that up later)
2. If I just want to give a VM 2 vCPU's, should I pick 2 sockets and 1 core over 1 socket and 2 cores or vice versa?
3. With hyperthreading enable do I need to give an extra core for each socket, (or socket for each core??) or does it work regardless of cores/sockets assigned, i.e. will it work with 1 vCPU (1 core on 1 socket)?
[X]
Welcome to Experts Exchange
Add your voice to the tech community where 5M+ people just like you are talking about what matters.
- Help others & share knowledge
- Earn cash & points
- Learn & ask questions
3-
3
6 Comments
Active today
1. Both OS will detect 2 Processors, but it depends on the applications you use. Add 1 vCPU, test and then add a 2nd and test, if no performance gain remove. This is the recommended approach. VMware Admins always over allocate in error with cpus and memory in VMs, start small, and increase if required. For basic Windows, 1 will be suitable and fine, but check performance with the tools, performance monitor, task manager, resource monitor in the
VM and Performance Tabs in vSphere Client.
2. Add Sockets. add Cores to comply with licensing.
3. 1 vCPU = 1 physical core on the host.
See Pages 17-27 in the vSphere 5.0 Resources Guide
http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-resource-management-guide.pdf
VM and Performance Tabs in vSphere Client.
2. Add Sockets. add Cores to comply with licensing.
3. 1 vCPU = 1 physical core on the host.
See Pages 17-27 in the vSphere 5.0 Resources Guide
http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-resource-management-guide.pdf
1. do you mean add 1 socket, then a 2nd socket? what about cores? 1, 2?
2. assume I have no licensing constraints, what does adding cores do?
3. have read through the resource guide and don't understand from it what hyperthreading needs, if anything, another socket?, another core? maybe I just missed it.
2. assume I have no licensing constraints, what does adding cores do?
3. have read through the resource guide and don't understand from it what hyperthreading needs, if anything, another socket?, another core? maybe I just missed it.
Active today
1. Correct, add 1 vCPU (socket), and check if you VM is slow, if you require more performance, add another vCPU (socket). Ignore Cores.
2. Cores were implemented, due to varius license constraints.
See this articles
http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1010184
3. Hyperthreading does not need anything.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyper-threading
2. Cores were implemented, due to varius license constraints.
See this articles
http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1010184
3. Hyperthreading does not need anything.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyper-threading
re: hyperthreading. there's an advanced CPU option under "resources" to select "Hyperthreaded Core Sharing" that says it is to "allow sharing of physical CPU cores when the host supports hyperthreading". This seems to suggest (to me anyway) that I need to allocate more than 1 core if I want hyperthreading to work so I'm still confused.
Also, will everything work as intended if I change sockets and/or cores after I've installed the OS, or do I need to do a new OS installation?
Also, will everything work as intended if I change sockets and/or cores after I've installed the OS, or do I need to do a new OS installation?
Active today
You allocate one CPU per virtual machine it's a processor. (The Hypervisor maps this processor in the VM to 1 Core on the host).
Leave that option set to ANY, and let the Hypervisor, pick the Core it wants to run the VM on. This allows you to pick a core on the host, and tie the VM to a particular core!
Yes, no changes required on OS.
Leave that option set to ANY, and let the Hypervisor, pick the Core it wants to run the VM on. This allows you to pick a core on the host, and tie the VM to a particular core!
Also, will everything work as intended if I change sockets and/or cores after I've installed the OS, or do I need to do a new OS installation?
Yes, no changes required on OS.
found a good explanation here :
http://communities.vmware.com/message/2009341#2009341
http://communities.vmware.com/message/2009341#2009341
Featured Post
Backup is strategic to your business because your data is strategic to your business. Without backup, your business will fail. This white paper explains why it is vital for you to design and immediately execute a backup strategy to protect 100 percent of your data.
Question has a verified solution.
If you are experiencing a similar issue, please ask a related question
In this article, I will show you HOW TO: Suppress Configuration Issues and Warnings Alert displayed in Summary status for ESXi 6.5 after enabling SSH or ESXi Shell.
In this article, I will show you HOW TO: Create your first Windows Virtual Machine on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.5 (ESXi 6.5) Host Server, the Windows OS we will install is Windows Server 2016.
Teach the user how to use configure the vCenter Server storage filters
Open vSphere Web Client: Navigate to vCenter Server Advanced Settings: Add the four vCenter Server storage filters: Review the advanced settings: Modify the values of the four v…
This video shows you how to use a vSphere client to connect to your ESX host as the root user.
Demonstrates the basic connection of bypassing certification set up.
Demonstrates how to access the traditional view to begin managing your virtual mac…
Suggested Courses
Course of the Month13 days, 17 hours left to enroll
801 members asked questions and received personalized solutions in the past 7 days.
Join the community of 500,000 technology professionals and ask your questions.