Introduction
Virtualization has revolutionized enterprise IT infrastructure, allowing organizations to maximize hardware utilization and reduce costs. Refurbished servers provide an excellent platform for virtualization when properly configured and optimized. This guide covers essential techniques for achieving optimal virtualization performance on refurbished hardware.
Hardware Requirements for Virtualization
CPU Considerations
Virtualization Extensions
Ensure CPU supports Intel VT-x or AMD-V technology
Core Count
More cores allow for better VM distribution and performance
Cache Size
Larger CPU cache improves performance for multiple VMs
Memory Optimization
Memory is often the most critical resource in virtualized environments:
Memory Overcommitment
Typical ratios: 1.5:1 for production, 2:1 for development environments
Memory Ballooning
Enable memory ballooning for dynamic memory allocation
Memory Compression
Use memory compression to increase effective memory capacity
Storage Configuration
Storage Performance Optimization
Tier 1: High-Performance
- SSD storage for VM boot disks
- Database and application storage
- Swap/page files
Tier 2: Standard Performance
- 10K RPM drives for general workloads
- User data and file shares
- Less critical applications
Tier 3: Archive Storage
- 7.2K RPM drives for backups
- Long-term data retention
- Infrequently accessed data
Hypervisor Selection and Configuration
Popular Hypervisor Options
VMware vSphere
Pros:
- Mature, feature-rich platform
- Excellent management tools
- Strong ecosystem support
Cons:
- Higher licensing costs
- Complex for small deployments
Microsoft Hyper-V
Pros:
- Integrated with Windows
- Cost-effective licensing
- Good Windows VM performance
Cons:
- Limited Linux support
- Fewer advanced features
Performance Tuning Techniques
CPU Optimization
CPU Affinity
Pin VMs to specific CPU cores for consistent performance
NUMA Awareness
Configure VMs to respect NUMA topology for better memory access
CPU Scheduling
Adjust CPU scheduler settings for workload characteristics
Network Optimization
SR-IOV
Enable Single Root I/O Virtualization for better network performance
DPDK
Use Data Plane Development Kit for high-performance networking
Network Segmentation
Separate management, VM, and storage traffic
Monitoring and Management
Key Performance Metrics
CPU Ready Time
Should be less than 5% for good performance
Memory Ballooning
Monitor for excessive memory pressure
Storage Latency
Keep disk latency under 20ms for optimal performance
Network Utilization
Monitor for network bottlenecks and congestion
Virtualization Success Factors
- Choose refurbished servers with virtualization-friendly hardware
- Implement proper resource allocation and monitoring
- Use tiered storage for optimal performance and cost
- Regular performance tuning and optimization
- Plan for growth and scalability from the beginning
