This section describes the memory optimization techniques you can use for low-memory servers (64 GB). If you are using Intel icen and ibbd 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.

Telco Cloud Platform RAN provides memory optimization in the way the latest drivers/firmware and ESXi consume memory. For information about specific driver versions that are compatible with Telco Cloud Platform RAN releases, see KB87936.

Procedure

  1. Download and install the compatible Intel icen driver version on the ESXi host.
    1. Download the icen driver version to the ESXi host:

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

    2. Remove the currently installed icen driver version:

      esxcli software vib remove -n icen

    3. Install the icen driver:

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

  2. Download and install the compatible Intel ibbd driver version on the ESXi host.
    1. Download the ibbd driver version 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 currently installed ibbd driver version:

      esxcli software component remove --component=Intel-ibbd

    4. Install ibbd-pf:

      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:

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

  3. Add the following settings in the ESXi host:
    1. Log in to the ESXi host as a root user.
    2. Add the following settings: 
      esxcli system settings kernel set -s maxVMs -v 6
esxcli system settings advanced set -o /Mem/MemMinFreePct -i 1
    3. Reboot the ESXi host.
    4. Re-instantiate the VM on the server.
  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.