What function does 'Storage I/O Control' serve?

Storage I/O Control serves the crucial function of managing storage access based on resource guarantees. It allows virtual machines (VMs) to receive a fair share of storage I/O resources, which becomes vital when multiple VMs compete for storage bandwidth. This control ensures that the performance of critical VMs is prioritized during periods of high resource contention, providing a more predictable performance level.

By implementing Storage I/O Control, administrators can set specific limits and shares on how much I/O a VM can use, effectively ensuring that no single VM can monopolize the storage resources. This functionality is particularly important in environments where resource availability can fluctuate, as it directly influences the overall performance and reliability of the storage subsystem as perceived by the VMs.

Understanding how resource guarantees through Storage I/O Control can enhance performance is essential for effective VMware infrastructure management, especially in multi-tenant environments or when running critical applications alongside less critical workloads.