How to configure specific Huge Page sizes in Linux kernel boot parameters

Products

• VMware Telco Cloud Automation
• VMware Telco Cloud Platform

Issue/Introduction

When deploying workloads that require specific Huge Page sizes (e.g., Telco Cloud Platform or high-performance databases), administrators must preallocate pages at boot time. Failure to use the correct parameter pairs results in the kernel failing to reserve the requested memory.

Environment

TCA build: 3.4
TCP 5.1

Cause

Huge Pages of specific sizes must be defined as kernel boot parameters using a mandatory pairing of hugepagesz (size) and hugepages (count).

Resolution

To configure hugepagesz and hugepages requirements for a Cloud Service Archive (CSAR) via the VMware Telco Cloud Automation (TCA) UI, you must utilize the Infrastructure Requirements Designer. This process maps the requested Huge Pages into the NodeConfig Operator definitions deployed to the Tanzu worker nodes Broadcom TechDocs: Enhanced Platform Awareness.

UI Configuration Workflow

1. Log in to the TCA web interface and navigate to Catalog > Network Function.

2. Select the target onboarded Cloud Native Network Function (CNF) and click the Designer (Edit) icon.

3. Within the visual designer, navigate to the Infrastructure Requirements tab.

4. Click Add Requirement and select Huge Pages from the drop-down list.

5. Define the preallocation parameters:

   • Size (hugepagesz): Select the required page size (e.g., 2M or 1G).

   • Count (hugepages): Specify the exact number of pages to allocate for that size.

6. (Optional) Define NUMA Node alignment if the workload requires strict low-latency memory boundaries.

7. Save the configuration to update the underlying Virtual Network Function.

Additional Information

 Linux Kernel HugeTLB Documentation
Supported 3.4 Node Customizations