Configure virtual machines to use hyper-threading with NUMA in VMware ESXi
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Configure virtual machines to use hyper-threading with NUMA in VMware ESXi

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Article ID: 326180

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Updated On:

Products

VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

 NUMA settings can change on a per host or per virtual machine basis in ESXi hosts verion 4.1.x and newer

For memory latency sensitive workloads with low processor utilization or high interthread communication, use hyper-threads with fewer NUMA nodes instead of full physical cores spread over multiple NUMA nodes.

Configure virtual machines to use hyper-threading with NUMA.

Environment


VMware vSphere ESXi

Resolution

Perform either of the following tasks:

  • Configure one virtual machine to use hyper-threading with NUMA, add numa.vcpu.preferHT=TRUE for per-virtual machine advanced configuration file.

    To edit with vSphere Client:
    1. Right-click on VM
    2. Select Edit Settings
    3. Click the Options tab.
    4. Highlight General under Advanced options and click Configuration Parameters.
       
  • Configure all virtual machines to use hyper-threading with NUMA, add numa.PreferHT=1 for per-host advanced configuration file.

    To edit from vCenter Server:
    1. Highlight Host.
    2. Click the Configuration tab.
    3. Under Software, click Advanced Settings.
    4. Highlight Numa and browse to Numa.PreferHT.