Online Manual Chapter 16

Caching in Virtual Environments

Caching virtual Hosts was implemented right from the beginning of this Software. Caching of Virtual Machines (Clients) has been added with Version 2.3.1.7. Virtual Environments with large numbers of VM´s require very fast storage solutions. So called “I/O Storms” will happen and slow down the systems. Caching with MaxVeloSSD is a price and performance effective solution to gain much performance in a massive virtual environment.

Caching in Virtual Machines(new)

Virtual machines use 2 kinds of disks: Virtual Disks that are implemented by software as one or more files on the Host. Or “Pass Through” Disks that consist of real hardware Disks on the Host.

VM RAM/SSD Caching with Virtual Disks

The virtual Disk used for caching must be stored on the SSD. The virtual Host will manage this virtual Disk and allow the setting and restoring of Checkpoints as usual. This is not possible with pass through disks. Other VM´s can use the SSD too to store virtual Disks for caching there. So you need only one SSD to cache several VM´s with.

VM RAM /SSD Caching with Pass Through Disks

Using a Pass Through Disk as caching device is potentially most effective option for caching Vm´s. Because the complete Bandwith of the SSD is available to the VM. A pass through Disk is exclusively available to each one Virtual Machine by design of the Virtual Hosts generally. How this is done is explained in the Documentation / Help Files for the Virtual Host. Checkpoint the Vm, then boot and initialize the SSD like on a real machine. Setting up the Cache with MaxVeloSSD exactly like on a physical machine. This is straighforward with no complication.