WHAT ARE THE HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS FOR A VIRTUALIZATION SERVER?

SETTING UP A VIRTUALIZATION SERVER?
There’s no need to worry if you don’t have a Cisco certification to pick the appropriate server. If you have basic knowledge of a desktop computer, you’ll have no trouble. Microsoft provides a guide to help determine the hardware requirements for a server, but it requires a certain level of technical expertise. This guide, however, provides clear and simple instructions on how to determine the ideal server for your needs. Continue reading to learn about the methods used for this purpose.

CPU
When selecting hardware for virtualization, there are three key factors to consider: CPU, memory, and network I/O capacity. These components are essential for successful workload consolidation.

When it comes to the CPU, it’s important to balance clock speed and the number of cores. It’s not necessary to buy the fastest CPU on the market, but rather one with a lower clock speed and more cores. For example, two CPUs with 2.4 GHz and 10 cores will provide better consolidation than two CPUs with 3 GHz and 4 cores. Only invest in faster CPUs if your workload requires it. The ideal virtualization server will have CPUs with large internal caches.

MEMORY
Your virtual machine is stored in RAM. The larger your RAM, the more efficient your consolidation will be. It is important to have enough DDR3 memory to handle the workloads you run on the system. Using the 10-core example, the two 10-core CPUs would be capable of handling 40 potential workloads threads. This is calculated by adding the total number of cores (20) and then multiplying by 2 since each core has the ability to run two threads.

If each workload requires 2 GB of memory, your server must have a minimum of 80 GB. The nearest binary equivalent would be 96 GB. Having less than that may negatively impact your consolidation or performance. Having more memory than necessary would result in an unnecessary expense.

It’s important to keep in mind that features for memory resilience require additional memory modules, which will not increase your available memory. These features should be reserved for servers that run crucial workloads.

NETWORK ACCESS
Ensure that you have sufficient bandwidth. To achieve this, you can upgrade your network interface to a quad-port NIC or even a 10 GbE NIC if your workload requires it. 1 GbE network interface cards are not adequate and should be replaced to provide more robust network access. Other factors to keep in mind for your virtualization server.

Before selecting a server, make sure it will meet all of your needs. Start by making a list of your requirements, then list the components necessary to fulfill them. Finally, check if your chosen server can accommodate those components. Here’s an example:

PCIe x8 slots may be limited, and you need one for your GPU, NIC adapter, and Fibre Channel host bus adapter. If you plan to install three GPUs instead of just one, this may be an issue. It’s important to review the specifications of your virtualization server hardware to ensure they meet your requirements.

If you encounter any difficulties, visit our self-service support center for assistance. You can find information and guidance on hundreds of topics, including the cost of building your servers.

WHAT’S NEXT?
Now you have an understanding of what is required for your virtualization server. Start by determining your workload, and then calculate the necessary CPU and memory. The rest is straightforward! If you found this information helpful, explore our other informative articles about servers.