VMmanager: Administrator guide

Server requirements

This article contains the server requirements for the platform installation. For cluster node requirements, see Server requirements for the cluster.

To ensure the stable operation of VMmanager, we do not recommend using a server with a platform as a cluster node. Technical support for the platform with such a configuration is not provided.

Hardware requirements

Platform

A server must be physical or virtual based on KVM virtualization.

Server performance requirements depend on the number of virtual machines (VMs) to be created:  


Up to 1500 VMsFrom 1500 to 3000 VMsFrom 3000 to 15000 VMsFrom 15000 to 25000 VMs

MinimumRecommendedMinimumRecommendedMinimumRecommendedMinimum
CPU2 GHz3 GHz2 GHz3 GHz2 GHz3 GHz3 GHz
Cores2448163232
RAM4 GB8 GB8 GB16 GB32 GB64 GB64 GB

Disk space

(root partition of the disk)

150 GB300 GB300 GB600 GB1 TB2 TB2 TB

*Stable operation of the platform with 15000-22000 VMs is not guaranteed in conditions of high server load. If you plan to create more than 25,000 VMs, we recommend purchasing an additional instance of the platform

CPU

Supported processors are Intel and AMD with x86_64 architecture and SSE4.2 instruction set. Processors with ARM architecture are not supported.

Disks

The /var directory is used to unpack Docker images. The disk partition with this directory must be at least 8 GB.

It is recommended to create a swap file for stable operation of the platform.

Use only SSD drives.

NIC

For installations of 3000 VMs or more, the speed of the network adapter must be at least 1 Gbps.

Cluster node

The cluster node must be a physical server with the following characteristics:


MinimumRecommended
CPU

2.4 GHz

3 GHz

Core number

4 pcs.

8 pcs.

RAM

8 GB

16 GB

Disk space

1 TB

2 TB

Read more in the Server requirements for the cluster.

System requirements

Supported operating systems:

  • AlmaLinux 8;
  • Ubuntu 20.04.

CentOS OS is not supported. If CentOS is installed on the server, you can migrate to AlmaLinux 8:

Use an unmodified OS in minimal edition: no third-party repositories and no additional services installed. 

Additional services are all programs installed on the server that are not included in the standard OS package and are not related to the platform operation. For example, additional web servers and DBMS.


For the platform to work correctly, do not change the default command prompt greeting in the .bashrc file.

System time

The system time must be synchronized with an NTP server. To do this, configure synchronization using the chrony software.

Network settings

Allow incoming connections to ports:

  • 22/tcp — SSH service. This port must be available to all cluster nodes and, if necessary, for the public network;
  • 80/tcp — HTTP;
  • 443/tcp — HTTPS.

The platform must have access to Internet resources.

Check that resources are available:

Access to resources should be available permanently. Lack of access can lead to platform malfunctions. For example, if the license server is not available, the platform license may be deactivated.

Check the status of services on a server with AlmaLinux 8:

  • nftables — must be enabled;
  • NetworkManager — must be enabled;
  • firewalld — must be disabled.