Is there a significant issue to allocating all available cores to one VM if that is the only major task...












2















I have a one-off task that requires me to use a VM to fix a build bug a software project using SCons (Python). The testing cycle is fairly short, resulting in frequent rebuilds. I'm using a 4-core laptop to host the VM and doing little else (a handful of tabs in Firefox, one terminal window for vim) aside from the work in the VM itself. I'm considering increasing the hardware allotment to the VM from 2 to 4 cores, but this would give all of my cores to the VM. Is this a terrible idea?



More info in case it matters:

VirtualBox on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS

RAM: 2GB of 8GB used according to free, 4GB allocated to the VM.
Storage: 256GB SSD (M.2)










share|improve this question





























    2















    I have a one-off task that requires me to use a VM to fix a build bug a software project using SCons (Python). The testing cycle is fairly short, resulting in frequent rebuilds. I'm using a 4-core laptop to host the VM and doing little else (a handful of tabs in Firefox, one terminal window for vim) aside from the work in the VM itself. I'm considering increasing the hardware allotment to the VM from 2 to 4 cores, but this would give all of my cores to the VM. Is this a terrible idea?



    More info in case it matters:

    VirtualBox on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS

    RAM: 2GB of 8GB used according to free, 4GB allocated to the VM.
    Storage: 256GB SSD (M.2)










    share|improve this question



























      2












      2








      2








      I have a one-off task that requires me to use a VM to fix a build bug a software project using SCons (Python). The testing cycle is fairly short, resulting in frequent rebuilds. I'm using a 4-core laptop to host the VM and doing little else (a handful of tabs in Firefox, one terminal window for vim) aside from the work in the VM itself. I'm considering increasing the hardware allotment to the VM from 2 to 4 cores, but this would give all of my cores to the VM. Is this a terrible idea?



      More info in case it matters:

      VirtualBox on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS

      RAM: 2GB of 8GB used according to free, 4GB allocated to the VM.
      Storage: 256GB SSD (M.2)










      share|improve this question
















      I have a one-off task that requires me to use a VM to fix a build bug a software project using SCons (Python). The testing cycle is fairly short, resulting in frequent rebuilds. I'm using a 4-core laptop to host the VM and doing little else (a handful of tabs in Firefox, one terminal window for vim) aside from the work in the VM itself. I'm considering increasing the hardware allotment to the VM from 2 to 4 cores, but this would give all of my cores to the VM. Is this a terrible idea?



      More info in case it matters:

      VirtualBox on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS

      RAM: 2GB of 8GB used according to free, 4GB allocated to the VM.
      Storage: 256GB SSD (M.2)







      memory virtual-machine cpu multi-core core






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited Nov 25 '18 at 2:06







      user3.1415927

















      asked Nov 25 '18 at 0:28









      user3.1415927user3.1415927

      111113




      111113






















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          This should not be a problem - worst case it will make your desktop sluggish. The biggest gotcha with resource allocation is oversubscribing RAM and causing the parent to swap, followed by disk IO bottlenecks in general (which can be somewhat mitigated by using an SSD)






          share|improve this answer
























          • I am using an SSD. Updated original question with that information. So if I keep memory allocation well within available RAM, processors are not as important? Would it be safer to allocate 3 instead of 4 processors?

            – user3.1415927
            Nov 25 '18 at 2:08











          • Processors are important, but you are unlikely to lick you system up by over subscribing the CPU. All of this us quite safe, and yes, allocating 3 CPUs may allow more responsiveness on the host, but it's not a big deal.

            – davidgo
            Nov 25 '18 at 2:10











          Your Answer








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          1 Answer
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          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

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          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes









          3














          This should not be a problem - worst case it will make your desktop sluggish. The biggest gotcha with resource allocation is oversubscribing RAM and causing the parent to swap, followed by disk IO bottlenecks in general (which can be somewhat mitigated by using an SSD)






          share|improve this answer
























          • I am using an SSD. Updated original question with that information. So if I keep memory allocation well within available RAM, processors are not as important? Would it be safer to allocate 3 instead of 4 processors?

            – user3.1415927
            Nov 25 '18 at 2:08











          • Processors are important, but you are unlikely to lick you system up by over subscribing the CPU. All of this us quite safe, and yes, allocating 3 CPUs may allow more responsiveness on the host, but it's not a big deal.

            – davidgo
            Nov 25 '18 at 2:10
















          3














          This should not be a problem - worst case it will make your desktop sluggish. The biggest gotcha with resource allocation is oversubscribing RAM and causing the parent to swap, followed by disk IO bottlenecks in general (which can be somewhat mitigated by using an SSD)






          share|improve this answer
























          • I am using an SSD. Updated original question with that information. So if I keep memory allocation well within available RAM, processors are not as important? Would it be safer to allocate 3 instead of 4 processors?

            – user3.1415927
            Nov 25 '18 at 2:08











          • Processors are important, but you are unlikely to lick you system up by over subscribing the CPU. All of this us quite safe, and yes, allocating 3 CPUs may allow more responsiveness on the host, but it's not a big deal.

            – davidgo
            Nov 25 '18 at 2:10














          3












          3








          3







          This should not be a problem - worst case it will make your desktop sluggish. The biggest gotcha with resource allocation is oversubscribing RAM and causing the parent to swap, followed by disk IO bottlenecks in general (which can be somewhat mitigated by using an SSD)






          share|improve this answer













          This should not be a problem - worst case it will make your desktop sluggish. The biggest gotcha with resource allocation is oversubscribing RAM and causing the parent to swap, followed by disk IO bottlenecks in general (which can be somewhat mitigated by using an SSD)







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Nov 25 '18 at 1:56









          davidgodavidgo

          43.5k75291




          43.5k75291













          • I am using an SSD. Updated original question with that information. So if I keep memory allocation well within available RAM, processors are not as important? Would it be safer to allocate 3 instead of 4 processors?

            – user3.1415927
            Nov 25 '18 at 2:08











          • Processors are important, but you are unlikely to lick you system up by over subscribing the CPU. All of this us quite safe, and yes, allocating 3 CPUs may allow more responsiveness on the host, but it's not a big deal.

            – davidgo
            Nov 25 '18 at 2:10



















          • I am using an SSD. Updated original question with that information. So if I keep memory allocation well within available RAM, processors are not as important? Would it be safer to allocate 3 instead of 4 processors?

            – user3.1415927
            Nov 25 '18 at 2:08











          • Processors are important, but you are unlikely to lick you system up by over subscribing the CPU. All of this us quite safe, and yes, allocating 3 CPUs may allow more responsiveness on the host, but it's not a big deal.

            – davidgo
            Nov 25 '18 at 2:10

















          I am using an SSD. Updated original question with that information. So if I keep memory allocation well within available RAM, processors are not as important? Would it be safer to allocate 3 instead of 4 processors?

          – user3.1415927
          Nov 25 '18 at 2:08





          I am using an SSD. Updated original question with that information. So if I keep memory allocation well within available RAM, processors are not as important? Would it be safer to allocate 3 instead of 4 processors?

          – user3.1415927
          Nov 25 '18 at 2:08













          Processors are important, but you are unlikely to lick you system up by over subscribing the CPU. All of this us quite safe, and yes, allocating 3 CPUs may allow more responsiveness on the host, but it's not a big deal.

          – davidgo
          Nov 25 '18 at 2:10





          Processors are important, but you are unlikely to lick you system up by over subscribing the CPU. All of this us quite safe, and yes, allocating 3 CPUs may allow more responsiveness on the host, but it's not a big deal.

          – davidgo
          Nov 25 '18 at 2:10


















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