I've noticed my virtual server struggling and I usually check the Task Manager for resource usage. If it shows the server needs more CPU or RAM, I tend to look into adding more resources. However, a colleague of mine insists that as long as the resources look good in vSphere, there's no need to add more. I understand that overprovisioning can be harmful, but if the server's operating system is maxed out, wouldn't it make sense to add more resources? I'm looking for clarity on this, and I get that the answer might vary depending on the situation!
4 Answers
Honestly, Task Manager is straying further from accuracy every day. I think it’s better to trust the hypervisor's metrics.
A classic example is Microsoft SQL Server, which often runs nearly at 100% RAM usage under ideal conditions. Many folks misunderstand this, thinking they need more RAM when the server is performing well despite high usage. You can't judge solely based on 'RAM Used.'
Using Task Manager to check resources can be tricky. If you're seeing 100% CPU or RAM, that's definitely a sign of a problem. But if it's around 85%, it really depends on what the application is doing and what it's waiting on.
Task Manager isn't the most reliable tool out there. I've heard it doesn't handle CPU boost clocks accurately, which is important to keep in mind. Your hypervisor's metrics might give you a better picture of what's really going on. For a clearer view, I suggest looking at CPU queue statistics instead of just utilization percentages.
Exactly! For instance, if a server has one socket with 4 cores and 16GB RAM and is running hot at around 85-90% RAM used, it might seem like it needs more. But often, it’s just caching data. So while I’d consider adding RAM based on what Task Manager says, I'd also take a deeper dive with tools like ProcMon or PowerShell for better insights.