Checklist: Deploying Virtual Machine Queue

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2

  Task Reference

Ensure that the management operating system’s physical network adapter supports VMQ and then enable virtual machine queues for the adapter.

Caution
For Intel network adapter drivers available as of this publication, this step must be performed only after the registry key settings to enable virtual machine queues are set. See Enabling Virtual Machine Queue on the Management Operating System for more information.

Important

Virtual Machine Chimney and VMQ are not supported simultaneously. If the network adapter also supports Virtual Machine Chimney, and both features are enabled, only VMQ is used.

Enabling Virtual Machine Queue for a Physical Network Adapter

Modify registry settings on the management operating system to enable VMQ.

Enabling Virtual Machine Queue on the Management Operating System

Configure the virtual machine’s virtual network adapter to use the physical network adapter that has VMQ enabled. That is, in Hyper-V Virtual Network Manager, set up a network with Connection Type of External and select the appropriate physical network adapter. Then, in the settings for the virtual machine’s network adapter, select this as the Network.

See Configuring Virtual Networks on TechNet.

If you are using System Center Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) 2008 or 2008 R2, ensure that the Enable Virtual Network Optimizations check box is selected on the Hardware Configuration tab of the Virtual Machine Properties. If you are not using VMM, and you use the Windows Management Interface (WMI), ensure that the VMQOffloadWeight is left at its default value or configured to a non-zero value.

See Configuring Virtual Networks in VMM on Microsoft TechNet and the entry for VMQOffloadWeight in the Msvm_SwitchPort Class reference on MSDN.