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How to choose the best hardware for virtualization
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Article
How many cores per CPU should you have in your virtual servers?
You can't simply look at CPUs, as there are other key elements of server design. Take these factors into consideration to see if high core count CPUs could work for your virtual servers. Read Now
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Virtual GPUs enable complex graphics without performance degradation
The demand for hardware virtualization that can support high resource consumption increases with compute-intensive apps. Understand the different use cases of a GPU-assisted environment. Read Now
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Employ high-performance GPUs to handle changing server workloads
The push to virtualization and increased reliance on multimedia and visualization tools has prompted businesses to reconsider the need for server-based graphics hardware. Read Now
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New trends in RISC technology, ARM processors for server virtualization
The latest RISC processors support virtualization and change the way computing resources scale to meet workload demands. Read Now
Editor's note
There are several factors to consider when choosing virtualization hardware. Will you be an early adopter of emerging technology? Do you need the most up-to-date servers to meet your workload requirements? Are there certain features and functionalities that will ease resource management in your environment?
These are only a few of the questions you should ask yourself when reviewing hardware virtualization. There's a fine line between not having enough resources and spending too much on something you don't necessarily need.
After purchasing a hardware platform, you need to determine the best way to optimize it; otherwise, valuable processor, memory, networking and storage resources will go to waste. With so many options available to you when it comes to hardware specifications and features, it can be hard to know where to start. Luckily, this updated guide to choosing the best hardware for virtualization can help.
1Network hardware options
In terms of making the most of your networking resources, selecting the best server hardware for virtualization is only the first step in the process. Of course, using different technologies can help you in those efforts depending on your performance needs, but certain features and techniques can also ease network management. Learn more about emerging technologies, like SNMP, iSCSI and NFS, as well as specific networking best practices with these tips.
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Use SNMP technology to monitor your virtualization environment
Simple Network Management Protocol, the protocol that governs network management and monitors network devices, makes managing a large or complex environment easier. Read Now
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Author Q&A and book excerpt: Network function virtualization
Learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of NFV, how NFV affects VM performance and how NFV software has and will continue to evolve to meet data center needs. Read Now
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How to improve network performance via advanced NIC options
Ethernet networks often struggle with modern data center workloads, but emerging network interface card (NIC) technologies are here to help improve network performance. Read Now
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Understand Hyper-V NIC teaming and its limitations
Hyper-V NIC teaming enables admins to achieve greater network bandwidth and fault tolerance, and it can be managed with PowerShell, but this technology does have its limitations. Read Now
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The iSCSI versus NFS debate: Easing configuration in vSphere
For performance rivaling Fibre Channel, you can bet on iSCSI or Network File System. But one protocol has the edge when it comes to ease of configuration in vSphere. Read Now
2Storage hardware trends
Perhaps one of the most difficult decisions admins have to make when purchasing virtualization server hardware is how they want to approach storage in their environments. Aside from increasingly popular technologies, like storage I/O control (SIOC) and hypervisor-aware storage, you have hyper-converged infrastructure systems to consider. Thoroughly evaluate the storage features different vendors offer and your overall server design before choosing a server for virtualization.
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Prevent storage problems with SIOC and other features
First, place fewer VMs on the same LUN, use queue depth throttling and limit disk requests. Then, take advantage of storage I/O control features and monitor storage I/O latency. Read Now
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Use Windows Server 2016's Storage Replica to achieve scalability
Although Hyper-V replication might adequately meet your storage needs, consider switching to Storage Replica if you're looking for a feature that offers more flexibility. Read Now
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Hypervisor-aware storage serves up per-VM stats
Virtualization admins will have less of an opportunity to blame storage for unidentifiable problems thanks to the advent of hypervisor-aware storage. Read Now
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Evaluate VMware VVOL technology implementation
Manage storage in large VMware vSphere environments with Virtual Volumes. Storage allocation and management can be done on a per-VM basis with this feature. Read Now
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Compare the pros and cons of hyper-converged to rack servers
The rapid evolution of server design is worth considering. With HCI, pooling and tiering of storage in the cluster makes deployment easier, but performance might be a concern. Read Now
3Terms associated with hardware virtualization
An essential part of choosing the best hardware for virtualization is knowing the related terminology. Read on to familiarize yourself with the key terms.
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Definition
hardware virtualization
Hardware virtualization, which is also known as server virtualization or simply virtualization, is the abstraction of computing resources from the software that uses those resources. Read Now
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Definition
server virtualization
Server virtualization is the masking of server resources, including the number and identity of individual physical servers, processors, and operating systems, from server users. Read Now
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Definition
processor
A processor is the logic circuitry that responds to and processes the basic instructions that drive a computer. Read Now
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Definition
virtual GPU
A virtual GPU is a computer processor that renders graphics on a server rather than on a physical endpoint device. Read Now
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Definition
RISC
RISC (reduced instruction set computer) is a microprocessor that is designed to perform a smaller number of types of computer instructions so that it can operate at a higher speed (perform more millions of instructions per second, or MIPS). (Continued...) Read Now
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Definition
ARM processor
An ARM processor is any of several 32-bit RISC (reduced instruction set computer) microprocessors developed by Advanced RISC Machines, Ltd. The ARM architecture was originally developed by Acorn Computers in the 1980s. Read Now
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RAM
RAM (Random Access Memory) is the hardware in a computing device where the operating system (OS), application programs and data in current use are kept so they can be quickly reached by the device's processor. Read Now
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virtual memory
Virtual memory is a memory management capability of an operating system (OS) that uses hardware and software to allow a computer to compensate for physical memory shortages by temporarily transferring data from random access memory (RAM) to disk storage. Read Now
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Definition
NVDIMM
An NVDIMM (non-volatile dual in-line memory module) is hybrid computer memory that retains data during a service outage. Read Now
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networking
Networking, also known as computer networking, is the practice of transporting and exchanging data between nodes over a shared medium in an information system. Read Now
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virtual networking
Virtual networking is a technology that facilitates the control of one or more remotely located computers or servers over the Internet... (Continued) Read Now
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virtual CPU
A virtual CPU (vCPU) also known as a virtual processor, is a physical central processing unit (CPU) that is assigned to a virtual machine (VM). Read Now
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GPU
A graphics processing unit (GPU) is a computer chip that performs rapid mathematical calculations, primarily for the purpose of rendering images. Read Now
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NIC
A network interface card (NIC) is a computer circuit board or card that is installed in a computer so that it can be connected to a network. Read Now
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Microsoft Hyper-V NIC teaming
Microsoft Hyper-V NIC teaming is the process of grouping multiple virtual network interface cards (NICs) across different physical NICs to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy. Read Now
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iSCSI
The iSCSI transport layer protocol allows the SCSI command to be sent over LANs, WANs and the Internet. Learn about its role in iSCSI SANs and virtualization. Read Now
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Definition
NFS
The Network File System (NFS) is a client/server application that lets a computer user view and optionally store and update file on a remote computer as though they were on the user's own computer. NFS was developed by Sun Microsystems in the 1980's and is an important distributed file system standard for network-attached storage (NAS). Read Now
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Definition
VVOLs
VVOLs is a provisioning feature for vSphere 6 that changes how virtual machines (VMs) are stored and managed. Read Now
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Definition
Microsoft Storage Replica
Microsoft Storage Replica is a feature in Windows Server 2016 that provides synchronous block-level, volume-based replication for high availability and disaster recovery needs. Read Now
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Definition
virtual storage
Virtual storage is the pooling of physical storage from multiple network storage devices into what appears to be a single storage device that is managed from a central console. The benefit of virtualization is that commodity hardware or less-expensive storage can be used to provide enterprise-class functionality. Read Now