1.5.6 Monitoring the network resources

This subsection explains how to monitor the network resources of a Hyper-V system.

Organization of this subsection

(1) Overview
(2) Monitoring examples

(1) Overview

In a Hyper-V system, multiple virtual machines share the NIC of the physical server. The NIC allocated to each virtual machine is called the virtual NIC.

The OS running on a virtual machine recognizes a virtual NIC as a normal NIC.

In a virtual environment, multiple virtual machines may use the physical NIC at the same time. As a result, the network bandwidth available to each virtual machine narrows, and each virtual machine's network data send/receive speed may decrease.

By monitoring the network's performance data, you can detect such performance deterioration in the virtual machines, enabling you to take appropriate corrective action.

The two records described below are used for monitoring the network resources. For details about the records, see 5. Records.

PI_HNI record

This record is used to monitor the performance data of the physical NIC.
PI_VNI record

This record is used to monitor the performance data of the virtual NIC.

The following figure shows the range of performance data collected in each record.

Figure 1‒50: Correspondence between records and data collection ranges

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(2) Monitoring examples

Using resource monitoring of virtual NIC1 and NIC2 and physical NIC1 and NIC2 as an example, this subsection explains problems that may occur with network resources, and how to solve them. The following figure shows the items monitored here and the flow of actions to take.

Figure 1‒51: Monitored items and flow of actions

(a) Example of monitoring the data send/receive speed of a virtual NIC

You can monitor the load applied to a virtual NIC based on the data send/receive speed of the virtual NIC. You can check the data send/receive speed of the virtual NIC in the Rate field of the PI_VNI record.

The figure below shows an example of monitoring the data send/receive speed of a virtual NIC.

Figure 1‒52: Example of monitoring the data send/receive speed of a virtual NIC

Monitoring template report to be checked: VM Network Data

In this example, the data send/receive speed of virtual NIC2 is high, indicating a high load level. When there is a virtual NIC with a high load, take the following action according to the virtual machine's communication status:

If the virtual machine communicates with an external network

Add a physical NIC to distribute the load of the virtual NIC.
If the virtual machine communicates only with another virtual machine (child partition)

Change the virtual NIC type to internal network connection.

(b) Example of monitoring the data send/receive speed of a physical NIC

You can monitor the load applied to a physical NIC based on the data send/receive speed of the physical NIC. You can check the data send/receive speed of the physical NIC in the Rate field of the PI_HNI record.

The figure below shows an example of monitoring the data send/receive speed of a physical NIC.

Figure 1‒53: Example of monitoring the data send/receive speed of a physical NIC

Monitoring template report to be checked: Host Network Data

In this example, the data send/receive speed of physical NIC2 is high, indicating a high load level. If there is a physical NIC with a high load, consider adding a physical NIC.

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