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Server hardware and virtualization

• Understand hardware support for virtualization

  Intel, AMD and ARM processors optimize virtualization in a number of ways, from instruction set extensions to interrupts, via Intel VT, AMD-V, ARMv8, Intel APICv and AMD AVIC. Continue Reading

• Use branch office servers to support infrastructure expansion

  A remote office setup requires infrastructure that meets performance, cost and space demands. Depending on the vendor, a microserver will likely provide the best compromise. Continue Reading

• 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. Continue Reading

• hardware-assisted virtualization

  Hardware-assisted virtualization is the use of a computer's physical components to support the mechanism that abstracts and manages the computer's underlying resources from its operating system and the applications that run on it. Continue Reading

• Best practices for sizing a server

  Serving sizing requires a number of comparisons, especially between having a few large servers or many popcorn servers. Compare use cases to find what fits. Continue Reading

• Definitions to Get Started

  • hardware virtualization
  • hardware-assisted virtualization
  • virtual hard drive
  • VMQ (Virtual Machine Queue)

  • hardware emulation
  • server hardware degradation
  • host virtual machine (host VM)
  • Intel VT (Virtualization Technology)

  View All Definitions

• Troubleshoot a hyper-converged system and work with vendors

  Thoroughly evaluate potential hyper-converged platforms, and establish best practices to avoid common challenges and fully realize the benefits of this technology.Continue Reading

• virtual hard drive

  A virtual hard drive file is a container file that acts similar to a physical hard drive.Continue Reading

• If SDDC is your next-generation data center architecture, plan now

  If software is eventually going to rule the data center, you'll want to form a plan that gets you from here to there. Be thorough and deliberate. And start now.Continue Reading

• How to enable hyper-threading in VMware vSphere 6

  Enabling hyper-threading in a hypervisor is easier than you might think. Follow these simple steps to take advantage of hyper-threading technology in VMware vSphere 6.Continue Reading

• Check system requirements before using a hyper-threaded processor

  From watching CPU affinity settings to checking for processor availability, there are things you should consider before using a hyper-threaded processor within a hypervisor.Continue Reading

• Storage overcommitment cuts waste, but don't over promise

  Thin provisioning is a commonly used feature to stretch storage resources, but it's also commonly abused.Continue Reading

• Coupling virtualization and storage

  The growing strain on storage systems has led IT to look for ways to help maximize efficiency and mitigate waste. It is possible to move away from traditional siloed LUNs and address storage volumes in terms of VMs.
  
  This handbook examines ...Continue Reading

• How VDI hardware requirements differ from virtualization

  VDI has specific hardware needs that servers hosting other virtualized workloads may not meet.Continue Reading

• How can I tell if a virtual CPU is to blame for poor performance?

  How can I tell if the allocation of multiple virtual CPUs is causing a performance problem on a virtual machine?Continue Reading

• How is a physical CPU divided into multiple virtual CPUs?

  How many virtual CPUs can you allocate to a VM, and how does this limit the number of VMs on a server?Continue Reading