A standalone ESX Server with two physical CPUs has two running virtual machines (VMs) labeled VMA and VMB. Each VM has two virtual CPUs. VMA has 4000 CPU shares and VMB has 2000 CPU shares. VMA is continuously using 10% of the ESX Server’s CPU resources. VMB attempts to use all CPU resources on the ESX Server. Ignore overhead from the service console. What percentage of the ESX Server’s CPU resources will VMB be granted?

A.
50%

B.
100%

C.
33%

D.
90%

Explanation:
Shares specify the relative priority or importance of a virtual machine (or resource pool). If a virtual machine has twice as many shares of a resource as another virtual machine, it is entitled to consume twice as much of that resource when these two virtual machines are competing for resources.

Note however, that VMA and VMB are not competing for resources. VMA is only using 10% of resources, so 90% are available for VMB, (D above).

If both systems were attempting to use more than 100% of total resources, resources would be allocated according to shares, with VMA (4000 CPU shares) receiving 66% of resources and VMB (2000 CPU shares) receiving 33% of CPU resources, (C above but not applicable since machines are not competing for resources).