Resource Pool

Definition

• A pool of CPU and memory resources for use by Virtual Machines

• Is configured with minimum and maximum quantities of each resource
• A resource pool may contain one or more resource pools
• Can be used on a standalone host or in a cluster

Types of Resource Pool

(a) DRS cluster Resource Pools

• This type of Resource Pool is an object in VC (Virtual Center)

• It is created and associated with a cluster of ESX servers.
• the resources (memory and CPU power) allocated to the resource pool will be with respect to
ESX servers that are part of the cluster.

2Gb, 5Ghz 2Gb, 5Ghz

4Gb, 10Ghz
Cluster A
ESX 1 ESX 2

1Gb, 2Ghz 1Gb, 2Ghz

RP1 RP2 RP1 RP2

2Gb, 5Ghz

2Gb, 5Ghz
RP1 RP2
VM1 VM3

VM3

VM1 VM2
Fig (i)

• The VMs created on such a resource pool will be hosted on one of the ESX server, that is part of the
cluster, as selected by DRS based on the availability of resources.
• The configuration and utilization of the resource pool, as viewed from one of the ESX host(s), will be
with respect to the physical resources available on the ESX server that hosts the VM and hence will not
match the configuration as seen in the VC
 • As seen in Fig(i), two ESX hosts ESX1 and ESX2 belong to Cluster A. The resources available for
any resource pool created on Cluster A will be the sum of resources in ESX1 and ESX2. Hence resource
pools RP1 and RP2, created on Cluster A, can be configured to have minimum and maximum resources
with respect to the total resources of both ESX servers that belong to Cluster A.
Assuming that VM1 and VM3 are switched on and DRS selects ESX1 and ESX2 to host the respective
VMs, we see that the resources allocated to the resource pools on the stand-alone hosts is restricted
based on the total resources available on the ESX host and also that all resource pools, created on a
cluster, will be visible in all the stand-alone hosts that belong to the cluster.

(b) Host Resource pools

• The resources (memory and CPU power) allocated will be with respect to the physical resources in
the ESX Server.
• Configuration and utilization data of this type of resource pools can always be retrieved using VI SDK
by connecting to the ESX Server