Configure DPM in VMWare

Distributed Power Manager (DPM) is part of Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS) integrated in VMWare.

As well as optimizing the process of loading resources through multiple DRS ESX servers, DPM can also contribute to performing this function by moving guest virtual machines from unused and off-premises servers. these servers.

In VMWare, DPM is described as follows:

VMWare DRS integrates distributed power management (DPM) feature. When DPM is activated the system will compare the server and cluster level capacity with the requirements of the virtual machines operating in that cluster. Based on the comparison results, DPM will propose (or automatically deploy) measures to reduce the power consumption of the cluster.

Why is the server turned on and not needed and not used? This is like when we turn on the light when we have enough light - an unnecessary waste. And DPM can automatically turn off unused servers.

Configure DPM in UMWare

Before starting to configure DPM we need to pay attention to some of the following requirements:

1. Install VMware Virtual Infrastructure Suite Enterprise.
   
2. At least two ESX hosts have been installed and operated.
   
3. Connecting Wake on LAN (WOL - a network connection standard that enables to turn on or turn off the computer with a network message) has been activated on ESX host servers.
   
4. Manage these servers with VMWare Virtual Center.

If you're not sure if the physical server (ESX storage system) supports WOL, then we can open this server in the VI Client , then go to the Configuration tab, click Network Adapters . Then we will see the Wake on LAN Supported column as shown in Figure 1.



Note that we may have to enter the server's BIOS to activate WOL.

Next, go to the VI Client Configuration , select the Networking area and make sure that the server's VMkernel vSwitch adapter is also an adapter that supports WOL. If it is not supported we will have to re-arrange the adapter because DPM uses the server's VMkernel vSwitch NIC.



We then need to create an ESX Server Cluster by right-clicking on the host server to select New Cluster .


When the New Cluster Wizard appears, it will appear. On the Cluster Features page we need to select for ESX Host Clusrer this is a Distributed Resource Cluster by selecting the VMWare DRS check box. Then click Next .



We then proceed to the next few steps to configure the installation of Cluster DRS on this Wizard, and check the configuration at the last step, then click Finish to create the DRS Cluster.

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After completing the creation, right-click on this Cluster and select Edit Settings as shown in Figure 5.






With the Power Management options of this Cluster, we can choose one of three options: turn off DPM for Cluster, install Cluster to DPM manually, or install DPM automatically for Cluster . We can also manually override the DPM settings for each ESX server located in that Cluster in the Host Override area of ​​the Power Management window (Figure 6).

With a manual DPM Cluster, DPM will send a proposal to turn on or turn off the servers in Cluster based on the requirements. We can see one of these suggestions in Figure 7.