VMware GSX 3 - Manual (Page 187)

C H A P T E R 6 Performance Tuning and the VMware GSX Server Host
187
Configuring GSX Server
The following sections offer advice and information about factors that can affect the
performance of GSX Server itself. The sections do not address performance of the
guest operating system or the host operating system.
• General GSX Server Options on page 187
• GSX Server on a Windows Host on page 191
• GSX Server on a Linux Host on page 193
Note: In addition to the GSX Server configuration options discussed below, you
should always install VMware Tools in any guest operating system for which a VMware
Tools package exists. Installing VMware Tools provides better video and mouse
performance and also greatly improves the usability of the virtual machine. For details,
see
Installing VMware Tools in the VMware GSX Server Virtual Machine Guide.
General GSX Server Options
The following sections describe ways you can improve the performance of GSX Server
on both Windows and Linux hosts.
Guest Operating System Selection
Make certain you select the correct guest operating system for each of your virtual
machines. To check the guest operating system setting, choose VM > Settings >
Options > General.
GSX Server optimizes certain internal configurations on the basis of this selection. For
this reason, it is important to set the guest operating system correctly. The
optimizations can greatly aid the operating system they target, but they may cause
significant performance degradation if there is a mismatch between the selection and
the operating system actually running in the virtual machine. (Selecting the wrong
guest operating system should not cause a virtual machine to run incorrectly, but it
may degrade the virtual machine’s performance.)
Memory Settings
Make sure to choose a reasonable amount of memory for your virtual machine. Many
modern operating systems have a growing need for memory, so assigning a generous
amount is beneficial for the best virtual machine performance.
The same holds true for the host operating system, especially a Windows host.
The New Virtual Machine Wizard automatically selects a reasonable starting point for
the virtual machine’s memory, but you may be able to improve performance by