Set the VM CPU operating mode of a cluster

Restrictions and guidelines

• If the CPU model is inconsistent for hosts in a cluster, you cannot select the host passthrough mode. To view the CPU model for a host, navigate to the host summary page.

• If you select the host passthrough mode for a cluster, do not add hosts that use different CPU models to that cluster.

Procedure

1. On the top navigation bar, click Compute.

2. From the left navigation pane, select Resource Navigation > All > Resources > Host Pool Name > Cluster Name.

3. Click More, and then select VM CPU Operating Mode.

4. Select a VM CPU operating mode, and the configure the parameters displayed accordingly.

5. Click OK.

Parameters

• Compatible: Virtualizes physical CPUs of different models into vCPUs of the same model. This mode features good migration compatibility.

• Host Model: Virtualizes a physical CPU into the most similar vCPU model. This mode features poor migration compatibility but provides better performance for guest OSs than the compatible mode.

• Host Passthrough: Directly passes through the host CPUs to VMs. This mode features poor migration compatibility but provides the best performance for guest OSs. VMs with the host passthrough CPU operating mode can be migrated only between hosts with exactly the same CPU model. To change the VM CPU operating mode to passthrough, make sure the hosts in the cluster support the same instruction set.

• EMC: Virtualizes a physical CPU into a specified CPU model. This mode avoids the CPU model changes caused by VM migration and has good migration compatibility. However, a VM can migrated only when the source and destination cluster meet the EMC migration requirements.

  • EMC Configuration: Enable EMC for Intel or AMD hosts.

  • vCPU Model: Select a CPU model for vCPUs created for VMs.