Dynamips : Reduce CPU utilization

Being a network engineer, you must be running dynamips on your PC or Laptop. The first and most hurdle you face is keep the CPU usage to the minimum. When i run a decent lab on Core 2 Duo 4 GB (in real 3GB) system, it usually consumes 80 to 90% of the CPU resources.As a result, the CPU temperature reaches almost close to the boiling point of water.I have tried all options (cooling pad) but not dipping my laptop into a can of water.

Whatever was the case, thatz "PAST".We have a solution now which is none other than the "idlemax"

Let us see how does this guy makes a difference in your life. The system i use is a 2.1 Ghz Core 2 Duo with 3 Gb memory with infamous Windows Vista. I am running VPN lab with 8 routers and you see a CPU utilization of 90% plus




Create a lab and identify the best idlepc value (the normal procedure) and save. Now Open the .net file with any text editing software (wordpad,textpad..) and search for "idlepc". Include a line idlemax = 100 just below idlepc and search for next idlepc line and continue the same process. Once you have done, save the file and open the .net file with dynamips or GNS3.



Here the difference. You see a drastic reduction in CPU usage, in this case it came down to 30%.


So what you are waiting for? Start you hypervisor and try it.