Performance of ClearCase servers on VMs

clearcaseperformancevmware-esx

Where I work, we are in need of upgrading our ClearCase servers and it's been proposed that we move them into a new (yet-to-be-deployed) VMmare system.

In the past I've not noticed a significant problem with performance with most applications when running in VMs, but given that ClearCase "speed" (i.e. dynamic-view response times) is so latency sensitive I am concerned that this will not be a good idea.

VMWare has numerous white-papers detailing performance related issues based on network traffic patterns that re-inforces my hypothesis, but nothing particularly concrete for this particular use case that I can see.

What I can find are various forum posts online, but which are somewhat dated, e.g.:

ClearCase clients are supported on
VMWare, but not for performance
issues. I would never put a production
server on VM. It will work but will be
slower. The more complex the slower it
gets. accessing or building from a
local snapshot view will be the
fastest, building in a remote VM
stored dynamic view using clearmake
will be painful….. VMWare is best
used for test environments

(via http://www.cmcrossroads.com/forums?func=view&catid=31&id=44094&limit=10&start=10)

and:

VMware + ClearCase = works but
SLUGGISH!!!!!! (windows)(not for
production environment) My company
tried to mandate that all new apps or
app upgrades needed to be on/moved
VMware instances. The VMware instance
could not handle the demands of
ClearCase. (come to find out that I
was sharing a box with a database
server)

Will you know what else would be on
that box besides ClearCase?

Karl
(via http://www.cmcrossroads.com/forums?func=view&id=44094&catid=31)

and:

… are still finding we can't get the
performance using dynamic views to
below 2.5 times that of a physical
machine. Interestingly, speaking to a
few people with much VMWare experience
and indeed from running builds, we are
finding that typically, VMWare doesn't
take that much longer for most
applications and about 10-20% longer
has been quoted.

(via http://www.cmcrossroads.com/forums?func=view&catid=31&id=44094&limit=10&start=10)

Which brings me to the more direct question: Does anyone have any more recent experience with ClearCase servers on VMware (if not any specific, relevant performance advice)?

Best Answer

For ClearCase registry server or license server, why not.
But for ClearCase Vob server or View (storage) server? I think not:

All of our Vob servers are on Solaris10, with zones, and ZFS (for extra large disk capacity).

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