VMware iFix Webspace Performance Issues - JAVA

We have consolidated some JAVA based workloads into ESXi and some performance issues found us.
Specifically, we virtualized the GE Webspace product for our manufacturing equipment and after a few concurrent users it would respond erratically - either slowly or just crash outright.

After attending a VMware support session they talked about how JAVA was one of their Top-10 support calls.  Webspace is a JAVA based application.

Here is the link to the Support Best Practices from VMware for JAVA:
http://www.vmware.com/resources/techresources/1087

What I found - use the RAM reservation!!

I enabled the RAM reservation and rebooted the server and all of our performance issues went away.  There are several other best practice suggestions in the document and I'm sure they will help in an environment that is more heavily utilized then ours.  But for us, the RAM reservation solved the problem.

First Step to Virtualizing - Consolidation

Several people I have talked too think that virtualizing their environment with VMware is just too expensive.  They are looking at the whole pie and not taking individual pieces.

Step #1 - Consolidation

How many physical servers do you have in a server room (or closet as the case may be)?

For most mid-size companies this could be 10-15 or more servers.  In our case it was close to 30 servers and growing when I started our virtualization project.

So how to start?  This seems to be one of the thorniest issues around.  Do you go "all-in" or start slow with some small scale proof-of-concept P2V (physical-to-virtual) conversions?  Truth is, go with what you are comfortable with.  If you have zero virtualization experience, I suggest starting with a workstation product for a few weeks to get used to working in a virtualized environment. 
If you are more comfortable in virtualization then find an older server and install on of the free hypervisors - my preference is VMware ESXi free edition.  It is exactly the same as the super expensive vSphere Enterprise Plus edition but just does not contain all the management tools and features.  A great way to start down the path.

Also, don't be fooled by the hype - Consolidation ratios published by VMware are TRUE!!
I have achieved 12 to 15 server consolidation ratio.  That is, on a single dual processor server I am running, in production, 12-15 virtualized servers.  The largest constraint on consolidate I have found is - RAM.  Not disk I/O, not network performance, not CPU but physical RAM in the server.

We have virtualized SQL Server 2005, Exchange 2007, Red-Hat Linux, Hyperion, GE iFix WebSpace and many other production, "Tier 1" applications.

Next post - Step 2 - Physical Servers and why you don't need to purchase the newest, greatest fire-breathing monster of a server for virtualization.  Chances are you either have one today you can use or you can get one rather inexpensively.
So, get out there and go for it!

New Blog Focus - Virtualization in the Middle of SMB

I am going to try and renew some focus to this blog and my work on virtualization projects.

Specifically - how do you virtualize a Middle size business and do so within the constraints of small budgets.

So - stay tuned, more to come