VPS: Ballooning - Dynamic Memory Management in Virtual Server Environments
This guide was created with the following products:
(Details may vary with products from different providers but the main concepts remain the same)
Introduction
Ballooning is a technology used for dynamic memory management in virtualized environments. It allows the hypervisor to flexibly allocate physical RAM between the different virtual machines (VMs) based on their current memory requirements.
This process is handled by a balloon driver inside the virtual machine, which communicates directly with the hypervisor. When the system detects that some virtual machines are using less memory than allocated, the hypervisor can temporarily reclaim unused memory by inflating the balloon in those VMs. This freed memory is then made available to other machines that currently need more.
Advantages of ballooning
Ballooning is not just about optimizing memory usage for a single server. It plays a crucial role in maintaining a balanced and stable environment for all customers on the host system. By dynamically managing memory across all virtual machines, the host can react even more effectively to changing workloads. This helps prevent bottlenecks and ensures smooth operation even during peak times.
As a customer, you benefit directly from this system-wide optimization. Ballooning helps maintain consistent stability even when multiple services are active at the same time. It ensures that memory is always available where it is actually needed, improving the overall responsiveness of your server. Unused memory in one instance does not remain idle but is made available to other processes if required.
This approach leads to a more reliable infrastructure where all customers enjoy smoother performance. Ballooning is a recommended and proven standard setting for the vast majority of server workloads. Deactivation is only recommended if you run highly specialized memory-critical applications. These include workloads that require exclusive physical memory allocation without any form of dynamic management such as certain real-time databases or specific low-latency applications.
Configure ballooning
If your application requires fixed and guaranteed memory without dynamic adjustments, you can disable ballooning directly in your Server Dashboard under Settings → Disable ballooning.
For typical server usage, however, we strongly recommend keeping ballooning enabled. This ensures that your server remains stable and responsive while also contributing to an efficient and fair distribution of resources across the entire host system.
If you do not see the option to disable ballooning in your server settings, this means your server is still running on LXC virtualization. We have recently switched to offering all new virtual server products based on KVM virtualization, which provides more advanced features.
If you would like to switch your server to KVM, you can simply perform a reinstallation from the server management panel. During the reinstallation process, your server will automatically be recreated on KVM virtualization.
Conclusion
You now know how Ballooning helps manage memory efficiently and keeps your server environment stable. For further questions or assistance, please don't hesitate to contact our support team, which is available daily to assist you! 🙂