The Provider \ Simplify it? dashboard complements vSphere configuration dashboards by displaying the actual vSphere objects, with their relevant information. The dashboard is designed for vSphere administrators and the platform team. The Provider \ Simplify it? dashboard is one of the eight dashboards that checks the environment for optimization opportunities.

Design Considerations

The Provider \ Simplify it? dashboard follows the same design considerations specified in the Consumer \ Correct it? dashboard. The eight Configuration > Review dashboards form an optimization flow and are designed as a set. Use them together, as you go through the optimization review process.

How to Use the Dashboard

  • Click the row in the Clusters widget to select one of the clusters from the table.
    • A cluster is more complex to operate when it has resource pools, shares, and limits.
  • Review the list of resource pools:
    • Ensure that the number of VMs in each resource pool reflects the intended settings for the VM. The resource pool value is divided and shared among the VMs. The more the VMs, the lesser the resources allotted to each VM.
    • Verify if there are VMs who are siblings to the resource pools.
    • Verify if the resource pools are further split into subresource pools.
  • Review the CPU Share and Memory Shares pie-charts:
    • Multiple combinations of shares, especially both CPU and memory, makes troubleshooting difficult.
    • Each share must map to exactly one class of service, such as one for gold and one for silver as the shares define the class of service. Shares are also relative, meaning the value depends on the value of sibling objects, such as, resource pool or VM. Ensure that the values are consistent across clusters to avoid unintended consequences while moving the VM to another cluster.
  • Review the CPU Reservation and Memory Reservation tables:
    • High total reservation, especially both CPU and memory, complicates the cluster operations as it impacts the HA slot calculation, and limits the DRS choice of placement.
  • Click the object name to navigate to the Object Summary page to view more configurations. There can be valid reasons why specific configurations are not followed. It is recommended that you discuss best practices with VMware.

Points to Note

See the Points to Note section as specified in the Consumer \ Correct it? dashboard. This dashboard follows the same design considerations, and as a result, shares limitations and customization ideas.