What is CPU steal?
CPU Steal time occurs when the hypervisor (the software managing VPS instances on a physical server) redistributes CPU resources among multiple VPS instances. It measures the time a virtual CPU spends waiting for real CPU resources while the hypervisor is servicing other virtual CPUs.
Why and when does CPU steal happen?
CPU Steal typically occurs in shared environments where many VPS instances share the same physical server. The main causes include:
Overall demand for CPU resources exceeds the available physical CPU capacity.
Multiple VPS instances require high CPU resources simultaneously, leading to temporary contention.
Particular VPS backup generation may also lead to temporary increased CPU steal.
Is CPU steal normal?
Yes, CPU Steal is a common and normal phenomenon in virtualized environments. It is part of the virtualization process to ensure fair CPU resource distribution among all VPS instances.
Hostinger's solution: automatic node balancer
To mitigate the impact of CPU Steal, Hostinger employs an automatic node balancer. This system runs daily, monitoring CPU usage across nodes and redistributing VPS instances to balance the load effectively. This proactive approach helps maintain optimal performance for all VPS instances.
Impact of 1-10% CPU steal on your VPS
A CPU Steal percentage between 1-10% is generally considered normal and should have minimal impact on VPS performance. Here’s what customers can expect:
1-3%: Negligible impact, almost imperceptible in most workloads.
4-7%: Slightly noticeable in CPU-intensive tasks but should not significantly affect overall performance.
8-10%: May cause some performance degradation in CPU-bound applications, but still manageable with proper resource planning.
Conclusion
Hostinger is dedicated to ensuring that your VPS runs smoothly and efficiently. Our automatic node balancer actively manages and balances CPU usage to minimize the impact of CPU Steal.