Intel QAT cuts encrypted VMware vMotion time by 25% in PT test

Principled Technologies found that Intel QuickAssist Technology reduced the time to migrate six active Microsoft SQL Server VMs with encrypted VMware vMotion by 31 seconds, or 25%, in testing on Intel Xeon 6-based hosts running VMware Cloud Foundation 9.1. The result matters for teams trying to shorten maintenance windows and reduce disruption during live migrations.

Why it matters: - Faster encrypted vMotion can reduce disruption during host maintenance, patching and cluster rebalancing. - The shorter migration window also lowers the time that encryption, decryption and database workload activity overlap during VM moves. - The findings are most relevant for data centers running active Microsoft SQL Server workloads on VMware.

What happened: - Principled Technologies tested encrypted VMware vMotion with and without Intel QuickAssist Technology on Intel Xeon 6 processor-powered hosts. - The test moved six Microsoft SQL Server VMs between two hosts in the same VMware environment. - VMware Cloud Foundation 9.1 used Intel QAT to offload cryptographic work to dedicated hardware. - The test kept host configurations the same and changed only the Intel QAT setting.

The details: - With Intel QAT enabled, the six-VM encrypted vMotion completed in 1 minute and 32 seconds. - With Intel QAT disabled, the same migration took 2 minutes and 3 seconds. - Intel QAT reduced the migration time by 31 seconds. - That result equals a 25% reduction in migration time. - The shorter migration also reduced the time the hosts were handling migration activity while the SQL Server VMs were processing database workloads. - The report says the exact impact in any environment depends on VM size, workload activity, network configuration, storage and the number of migrating VMs. - Principled Technologies said the report provides detailed system configurations, methodology and results for the Intel QAT testing. - The report concludes that vMotion remains essential for routine VMware operations. - The report also states that VCF 9.1 with Intel QAT on Intel Xeon 6 processor-based hosts reduced the time to migrate active SQL Server VMs by 25%.

Between the lines: - The main advantage is not just speed. It is reduced overlap between live application work and the migration process. - Hardware-assisted cryptography can matter most when many active VMs need to move without extending maintenance windows. - The test focused on a specific workload and environment, so the results point to potential gains rather than a universal outcome.

What's next: - IT teams evaluating VMware Cloud Foundation 9.1 may use the report to compare migration performance with Intel QAT enabled and disabled. - Results in production will depend on local workload and infrastructure conditions. - Principled Technologies directs readers to its full report and testing science for more detail on configurations and methods.

The bottom line: - Intel QAT helped shorten encrypted live migration for active SQL Server VMs, cutting test time by 25% and shrinking the window for operational disruption.