# Optimal usage of big server (use VMs or not ...) **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Created:** [October 6, 2014, 4:29pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/optimal-usage-of-big-server-use-vms-or-not/20094 "2014-10-06T16:29:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![knacktus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@knacktus](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/knacktus)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 4:29pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/optimal-usage-of-big-server-use-vms-or-not/20094/1 "2014-10-06T16:29:45Z")
Regarding the recommendations for the maximal Java heap size, what is the best practice to utilize one server with lots of RAM (12 or 16 cores, 256 GB RAM): 1. Create 4 VMs, each 64 GB RAM and 32 GB Java heap size per VM - more shards per index 2. Use bare metal (256 GB RAM total), 128 GB Java heap size - less shards per index Besides the less usable RAM due to pointer compression not taking place, does the large heap of alternative 2 affect the garbage collection and stability in such a bad way, that I can consider this as\* really not recommended\*? On the other hand, are there serious performance (disk I/O) or other known implications using ES in a VM (alternative 1)? Or is it worth to try it out? Thanks, Jan -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "elasticsearch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). To view this discussion on the web visit [https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/6737bb7c-9f4d-4b86-aaf3-7a566e5d6809%40googlegroups.com](https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/6737bb7c-9f4d-4b86-aaf3-7a566e5d6809%40googlegroups.com). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). ---
**Author:** ![knacktus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@knacktus](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/knacktus)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 7:00am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/optimal-usage-of-big-server-use-vms-or-not/20094/2 "2014-10-11T07:00:29Z")
A third option has come to my mind: How about starting several nodes on one server? Any known disadvantages for this option compared to virtual machines? Cheers, Jan -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "elasticsearch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). To view this discussion on the web visit [https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/4839d60f-f0ca-445d-85f0-561ac166341d%40googlegroups.com](https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/4839d60f-f0ca-445d-85f0-561ac166341d%40googlegroups.com). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). ---
**Author:** ![warkolm](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/warkolm/32/39224_2.png) [@warkolm](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/warkolm)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2014, 9:06am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/optimal-usage-of-big-server-use-vms-or-not/20094/3 "2014-10-11T09:06:54Z")
We use VMs as we knew the tech, we did consider containers (eg docker) but they were still new to us and considered a risk. Running multiple instance on a single node can work, you just need to be able to manage it. The Elasticsearch puppet module lets you do this though. Regards, Mark Walkom Infrastructure Engineer Campaign Monitor email: [markw@campaignmonitor.com](mailto:markw@campaignmonitor.com) web: [www.campaignmonitor.com](http://www.campaignmonitor.com) On 11 October 2014 18:00, [knacktus@googlemail.com](mailto:knacktus@googlemail.com) wrote: > A third option has come to my mind: > > How about starting several nodes on one server? Any known disadvantages > for this option compared to virtual machines? > > Cheers, > > Jan > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "elasticsearch" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). > To view this discussion on the web visit > [https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/4839d60f-f0ca-445d-85f0-561ac166341d%40googlegroups.com](https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/4839d60f-f0ca-445d-85f0-561ac166341d%40googlegroups.com) > [https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/4839d60f-f0ca-445d-85f0-561ac166341d%40googlegroups.com?utm\_medium=email&utm\_source=footer](https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/4839d60f-f0ca-445d-85f0-561ac166341d%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer) > . > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "elasticsearch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). To view this discussion on the web visit [https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/CAEM624b-gB6X3e%2Bg8cgWPh%3D7%3DPp4prAy61dCbuDYY\_w-8-Ucpg%40mail.gmail.com](https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/CAEM624b-gB6X3e%2Bg8cgWPh%3D7%3DPp4prAy61dCbuDYY_w-8-Ucpg%40mail.gmail.com). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 12:56am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/optimal-usage-of-big-server-use-vms-or-not/20094/4 "2017-07-06T00:56:51Z")