VMware ESX 4.0 - INSTALLATION GUIDE UPDATE 1 Installation Manual page 15

Recommendations for Enhanced ESX Performance
There are several things you can do to enhance ESX performance, including using multiple physical disks,
such as SCSI disks, Fibre Channel LUNs, and RAID LUNs.
Following are some recommendations for enhanced performance:
RAM – The ESX host might require more RAM for the service console if you are running third-party
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management applications or backup agents.
Network adapters for virtual machines – Dedicated Gigabit Ethernet cards for virtual machines, such as
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Intel PRO 1000 adapters, improve throughput to virtual machines with high network traffic.
Disk location – For best performance, store all data used by your virtual machines on physical disks
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allocated to virtual machines. These physical disks should be large enough to hold disk images used by
all the virtual machines.
Processors – Faster processors improve ESX performance. For certain workloads, larger caches improve
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ESX performance.
Hardware compatibility – Use devices in your server that are supported by ESX 4.0 drivers. See the
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Hardware Compatibility Guide at http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility.
Tested Software and Firmware for Creating ESX Installation Media
Before you install ESX, you might need to burn the ESX installation ISO image onto DVD or USB media. Review
the firmware and software that VMware has tested and has confirmed works.
VMware has tested these combinations, however, other combinations might work as well.
Table 2-1 lists the tested combinations for burning the ESX installation ISO image onto DVD media.
Table 2-1. Tested Combinations for DVD
DVD Drive (Make, Model, and BIOS)
Phillips + RW DVD8801
Philips PLDS DVD + RW DH-16A6S
Philips PLDS DVD + RW DH-16W1S
Philips BenQ PBDS + RW DH-16W1S
HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GSA-H53N
Dell/_NEC DVD +-RW ND-3530A
Dell/_NEC DVD +-RW ND-3530A
Dell/_NEC DVD +-RW ND-3530A
Dell/_NEC DVD +-RW ND-3530A
Table 2-2 lists the tested combinations for burning the ESX installation ISO image onto USB media.
Table 2-2. Tested Combinations for USB
External USB DVD Drive
Iomega
LaCie
VMware, Inc.
Software to Burn DVD
Roxio Creator Classic version: 6.1.1.48
Roxio Creator version: 3.3.0
Roxio Creator version: 3.3.0
Roxio Creator version: 3.3.0
Burn4Free V.4.6.0.0
Roxio Creator Classic version: 6.1.1.48
Roxio Creator Classic version: 6.1.1.48
Roxio Creator Classic version: 6.1.1.48
Roxio Creator Classic version: 6.1.1.48
Firmware Version
Rev: XY13
Rev: LA00
Chapter 2 System Requirements
DVD Media
SONY DVD +RW 120min / 4.7 GB
SONY DVD+RW
SONY DVD+RW
SONY DVD+RW
SONY DVD+RW
Memorex DVD-R
Office Depot DVD+RW
Ativa DVD-RW
TDK DVD+R
Verbatim DVD+R
SONY DVD-R
Maxell DVD+R
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