How to Configure Virtual Machine Priority for Host CPU Resources

Article
01/17/2008

You can configure how CPU resources are allocated among virtual machines deployed on the same host by using the Resource Allocation section on a Virtual Machine Manager hardware profile. Specifying a higher setting for a virtual machine means that any virtual machine created by using this hardware profile will be allocated CPU resources before other virtual machines on the same host that have a lower setting.

Before You Start

The following procedure assumes one of the following:

You are creating a new stand-alone hardware profile and are configuring the Hardware Settings tab.
You are configuring hardware profile settings on the Configure Hardware page of the New Template Wizard or the New Virtual Machine Wizard.
You are configuring the properties of an existing stand-alone hardware profile on its Hardware Settings tab or are configuring an existing template or virtual machine on the Hardware Configuration tab.

To configure the relative priority for a virtual machine for accessing host CPU resources

In the left pane, under Resource Allocation, click Priority, and then in the results pane under Relative Weight, accept the default setting or select a different setting.

Note

Specifying a higher setting means that a virtual machine configured by using this hardware profile will be allocated CPU resources before other virtual machines on the same host that have a lower setting.

Available settings are as follows:

High

Above Normal

Normal (default setting)

Below Normal

Low

Custom

If you select Custom, specify an integer. The default value is 1 (the lowest priority), and the highest available setting is 10000.
To save the settings, do one of the following:

Option 1: If this hardware profile is a new or existing stand-alone hardware profile, click Apply to save the settings.

Option 2: If this hardware profile is on the Configure Hardware page in the New Virtual Machine Wizard or the New Template Wizard (and you have completed any other settings you want to configure on this hardware profile), click Next to save the settings and continue to the next page. Alternatively, to save your settings not only in this wizard but also as a stand-alone profile, click Save Profile, type a name in the Name field on the General tab (and, optionally, change any other settings); click Apply, click OK to return to the Configure Hardware page; click Next to continue to the next wizard page, and then complete the wizard as usual.

Option 3: If this hardware profile is on the properties page of an existing virtual machine or template, click Apply to save the settings.

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How to Configure Virtual Machine Priority for Host CPU Resources

Before You Start

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