This section describes the memory optimization techniques you can use for low-memory servers (64 GB). If you are using Intel E810 NIC (icen 1.6.5) and ACC100 (ibbd 1.0.7) drivers, the server consumes more memory and you cannot power ON the VM requiring 52 GB memory on the server. You can reduce the memory consumption in the server by using the memory optimization techniques and instantiate the 52 GB VM on the 64 GB server.

Procedure

  1. Download and install Intel icen 1.8.5 or later on the ESXi host.
    1. Download the following icen driver version to the ESXi host:

      Intel-icen_<version>-1OEM.<version>.zip

    2. Remove the currently installed icen driver version 1.6.5:

      esxcli software vib remove -n icen

    3. Install the icen driver version 1.8.5 or later:

      esxcli software vib install -d /<location of the downloaded driver>/Intel-icen_<version>-1OEM.<version>.zip

  2. Download and install the Intel ibbd driver 1.0.8 or later on the ESXi host.
    1. Download the following ibbd driver package to the ESXi host:

      VMW-esx-7.0.0-Intel-ibbd-tools-<version>-1OEM.<version>.zip

    2. Extract the following components of the downloaded package:

      • ibbd-pf

      • ibbd-tool

    3. Remove the ibbd driver version 1.0.7:

      esxcli software component remove --component=Intel-ibbd

    4. Install ibbd-pf version 1.0.8 or later:

      esxcli software component apply –d /<location of the extracted driver>/VMW-esx-7.0.0-Intel-ibbd-pf-<version>-1OEM.<version>.zip

    5. Install ibbd-tool version 1.0.8 or later:

      esxcli software component apply –d /<location of the extracted driver>/VMW-esx-7.0.0-Intel-ibbd-tool-<version>-1OEM.<version>.zip

  3. Set the maximum memory required for the VMs in the ESXi host:
    1. Log in to the ESXi host as a root user.
    2. Set the maxVM value:

      esxcli system settings kernel set -s maxVMs -v 6

    3. Reboot the ESXi host.
  4. Unconfigure DRSS and RSS in the ESXi host:
    1. Log in to the ESXi host as a root user.
    2. Enter the following value on the command prompt:

      esxcfg-module icen -s 'DRSS=0,0,0,0 RSS=0,0,0,0'

    3. Reboot the ESXi host.