VCAP5 DCA Study Guide


Section 3 – Deploy DRS Clusters and Manage Performance

Objective 3.1 – Tune and Optimize vSphere Performance

Knowledge

  • Identify appropriate BIOS and firmware setting requirements for optimal ESXi host performance

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/Perf_Best_Practices_vSphere5.0.pdf#page=14

http://vmguy.com/wordpress/index.php/archives/362

http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-5101

  • Identify appropriate driver revisions required for optimal ESXi host performance

Skills and Abilities

  • Tune ESXi host memory configuration

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/Perf_Best_Practices_vSphere5.0.pdf#page=25

http://www.virtualinsanity.com/index.php/2010/02/19/performance-troubleshooting-vmware-vsphere-memory/

  • Tune ESXi host networking configuration

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/Perf_Best_Practices_vSphere5.0.pdf#page=34

http:/virtualinsanity.com/index.php/2010/03/29/performance-troubleshooting-vmware-vsphere-network

  • Tune ESXi host CPU configuration

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/Perf_Best_Practices_vSphere5.0.pdf#page=19

http://www.virtualinsanity.com/index.php/2010/02/15/performance-troubleshooting-vmware-vsphere-cpu/

  • Tune ESXi host storage configuration

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/Perf_Best_Practices_vSphere5.0.pdf#page=30

http://www.virtualinsanity.com/index.php/2010/03/16/performance-troubleshooting-vmware-vsphere-storage/

  • Configure and apply advanced ESXi host attributes

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-resource-management-guide.pdf#page=99

  • Configure and apply advanced Virtual Machine attributes

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-resource-management-guide.pdf#page=102

  • Configure advanced cluster attributes

Tools

vSphere Command-Line Interface Concepts and Examples

vSphere Monitoring and Performance Guide

Product Documentation

vSphere Client / Web Client

Performance Graphs

vSphere CLI

o esxcli

o resxtop/esxtop

o vscsiStats

 

Objective 3.2 – Optimize Virtual Machine Resources

Knowledge

  • Compare and contrast virtual and physical hardware resources
  • Identify VMware memory management techniques

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2017642

http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/mem_mgmt_perf_vsphere5.pdf

  • Identify VMware CPU load balancing techniques

http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/techpaper/VMW_vSphere41_cpu_schedule_ESX.pdf

http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-4960

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1017936

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-resource-management-guide.pdf#page=92

  • Identify pre-requisites for Hot Add features

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-virtual-machine-admin-guide.pdf#page=94

http://searchvmware.techtarget.com/tip/VMware-vSphere-hot-add-RAM-and-hot-plug-CPU-Not-so-hot-but-still-cool

http://www.boche.net/blog/index.php/2009/05/10/vsphere-memory-hot-add-cpu-hot-plug/

http://www.vmlover.com/2009/05/hot-add-cpu-vsphere/

https://adaptivethinking.wordpress.com/2009/07/27/vsphere-esx4-hot-add-memory-for-linux-guests/

 

Skills and Abilities

  • Tune Virtual Machine memory configurations

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-virtual-machine-admin-guide.pdf#page=36

  • Tune Virtual Machine networking configurations

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-virtual-machine-admin-guide.pdf#page=37

  • Tune Virtual Machine CPU configurations

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-virtual-machine-admin-guide.pdf#page=36

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-virtual-machine-admin-guide.pdf#page=99

  • Tune Virtual Machine storage configurations

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-virtual-machine-admin-guide.pdf#page=38

  • Calculate available resources

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-resource-management-guide.pdf#page=9

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/Perf_Best_Practices_vSphere5.0.pdf#page=52

  • Properly size a Virtual Machine based on application workload

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/Perf_Best_Practices_vSphere5.0.pdf#page=37

  • Modify large memory page settings

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/Perf_Best_Practices_vSphere5.0.pdf#page=28

http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/large_pg_performance.pdf

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1021896

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1021095

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-resource-management-guide.pdf#page=100

  • Understand appropriate use cases for CPU affinity

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/Perf_Best_Practices_vSphere5.0.pdf#page=21

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-resource-management-guide.pdf#page=21

  • Configure alternate virtual machine swap locations

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-resource-management-guide.pdf#page=33

Tools

vSphere Resource Management Guide

vSphere Virtual Machine Administration

Product Documentation

vscsiStats

vSphere Client / Web Client

Performance Charts

vSphere CLI

resxtop/esxtop

 

Objective 3.3 – Implement and Maintain Complex DRS Solutions

Knowledge

  • Explain DRS / storage DRS affinity and anti-affinity rules

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-resource-management-guide.pdf#page=71

  • Identify required hardware components to support DPM

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-resource-management-guide.pdf#page=67

  • Identify EVC requirements, baselines and components

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-host-management-guide.pdf#page=123

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-resource-management-guide.pdf#page=55

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1003212

  • Understand the DRS / storage DRS migration algorithms, the Load Imbalance Metrics, and their impact on migration recommendations

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-resource-management-guide.pdf#page=54

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1007485

 

Skills and Abilities

  • Properly configure BIOS and management settings to support DPM

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-resource-management-guide.pdf#page=67

  • Test DPM to verify proper configuration

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-resource-management-guide.pdf#page=68

  • Configure appropriate DPM Threshold to meet business requirements

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-resource-management-guide.pdf#page=69

  • Configure EVC using appropriate baseline

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1003212

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-host-management-guide.pdf#page=122

  • Change the EVC mode on an existing DRS cluster

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-host-management-guide.pdf#page=125

  • Create DRS and DPM alarms

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-resource-management-guide.pdf#page=70

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-monitoring-performance-guide.pdf#page=35

http://communities.vmware.com/servlet/JiveServlet/download/12145-1-35516/vSphere%20Alarms%20v2.xlsx;jsessionid=B696F778AA032D9AE6E36FBA38F1D98D

  • Configure applicable power management settings for ESXi hosts

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-resource-management-guide.pdf#page=22

  • Properly size virtual machines and clusters for optimal DRS efficiency
  • Properly apply virtual machine automation levels based upon application requirements

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-resource-management-guide.pdf#page=57

  • Create and administer ESXi host and Datastore Clusters

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-resource-management-guide.pdf#page=51

  • Administer DRS / Storage DRS

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-resource-management-guide.pdf#page=59

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-resource-management-guide.pdf#page=83

 

Tools

vSphere Resource Management Guide

Product Documentation

vSphere Client

DRS / Storage DRS Resource Distribution Chart

 

Objective 3.4 – Utilize Advanced vSphere Performance Monitoring Tools

Knowledge

  • Identify hot keys and fields used with resxtop/esxtop

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-monitoring-performance-guide.pdf#page=45

http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-9279

  • Identify fields used with vscsiStats

Skills and Abilities

  • Configure esxtop/resxtop custom profiles

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-monitoring-performance-guide.pdf#page=48

http://vmtoday.com/2009/09/the-skinny-on-esxtop/

  • Determine use cases for and apply esxtop/resxtop Interactive, Batch and Replay modes

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-monitoring-performance-guide.pdf#page=46

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-monitoring-performance-guide.pdf#page=60

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-monitoring-performance-guide.pdf#page=61

  • Use vscsiStats to gather storage performance data

http://www.yellow-bricks.com/2009/12/17/vscsistats/

http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-10095

http://ikb.vmware.com/kb/1012714

  • Use esxtop/resxtop to collect performance data

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-monitoring-performance-guide.pdf#page=60

  • Given esxtop/resxtop output, identify relative performance data for capacity planning purposes

http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-9279

http://www.yellow-bricks.com/esxtop/

 

Tools

vSphere Resource Management Guide

Product Documentation

vSphere Client

vSphere CLI

esxtop/resxtop

vscsiStats

 

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