VMware ESXi and vSphere Cluster Management

Using Overview and Advanced Performance Charts in vCenter Server

Learn how to access, customize, and interpret Overview and Advanced performance charts for ESXi hosts and virtual machines in vCenter Server.

vCenter Server performance charts help administrators understand how ESXi hosts, virtual machines (VMs), and other vSphere inventory objects use resources over time. You can begin with a predefined Overview chart for a quick assessment, then use an Advanced chart to select detailed performance counters for troubleshooting, reporting, or capacity planning.

This lesson assumes basic vSphere Client navigation, familiarity with the vSphere inventory, and a basic understanding of CPU, memory, storage, and network resources. For broader platform context, see the VMware ESXi online course.

What vCenter Server Performance Charts Show

vCenter Server is the vSphere management platform that presents collected performance data for managed inventory objects. A performance chart is a graphical view of metric data over a selected time period.

Charts can help you:

Identify possible CPU, memory, storage, or network resource constraints.
Investigate symptoms such as a slow VM or an intermittently busy ESXi host.
Monitor current and recent utilization during routine operations.
Review historical trends, recurring peaks, workload growth, and capacity risks.
Preserve visual evidence for incident records and operational reports.

Charts support analysis, but they do not explain a workload by themselves. Interpret the measurements alongside workload behavior, configuration, scheduling, storage design, network conditions, application events, and infrastructure context. High activity is not automatically proof of contention or poor performance.

Performance-Chart Scope and Monitored Objects

The selected object in the vSphere inventory determines which metrics, resource categories, counters, and instances are available. The primary objects for this workflow are:

ESXi host: A VMware hypervisor host whose compute and infrastructure resource behavior can be monitored.
Virtual machine: A guest workload whose resource consumption and performance metrics can be reviewed in vCenter Server.
Resource pool: A logical grouping used to allocate and control compute resources for workloads. Resource pools and other vSphere objects may expose relevant performance views where supported.

A counter is a specific measured metric for an object, resource category, or instance. For example, the available CPU counters for a host may differ from those available when a VM is selected. If a metric is not present in an Overview chart, check the Advanced view and its available counter categories.

Overview Performance Charts

An Overview chart is a predefined, high-level performance view intended for quick assessment. The administrator selects from available summary views through a chart-selection control or similar interface. The exact labels and layout can vary between vSphere Client versions.

Overview charts are useful for:

Rapid checks when a user reports that a VM is slow.
Routine monitoring of an ESXi host or VM.
Establishing an initial view before detailed investigation.
Spotting an unusual resource category or time period that deserves closer review.

Because Overview charts use predefined selections, they may not expose every available performance counter. Treat them as a starting point rather than a complete diagnosis.

Accessing Overview Charts

Select an ESXi host or VM in the vSphere inventory.
Open Monitor.
Open Performance.
Choose an available Overview chart from the chart-selection control.
Review the displayed resource activity and time range.

For a VM, the first review might show whether CPU, memory, storage, or network activity changes during the reported slowdown. For an ESXi host, the same workflow provides a high-level view of host resource behavior. If a resource pool or another supported object is selected, use the performance views exposed for that object.

Advanced Performance Charts

An Advanced chart is a customizable performance view for detailed investigation. Advanced charts let you choose resource categories, performance counters, available instances, time ranges, and chart presentation options. They can expose counters that do not appear in predefined Overview charts.

Use Advanced charts when you need to:

Investigate a specific CPU, memory, storage, or network question.
Compare multiple related counters on the same object.
Correlate metric behavior with a reported incident or workload event.
Review a longer historical period for trend analysis.
Export or print chart output for incident documentation, reporting, or offline analysis.

Accessing Advanced Charts

Select the target ESXi host or VM in the vSphere inventory.
Open Monitor.
Open Performance.
Choose Advanced.
Open Chart Options to configure the chart.

Chart Options is the configuration interface used to build or modify an Advanced chart. It is where you select the resource category, counter, instance where available, time range, and suitable chart display.

Creating a Custom Advanced Chart

Start with a performance question. For example: “Did host CPU pressure coincide with the nightly workload?” A focused question helps avoid adding unrelated counters.
Open Chart Options. Use the Advanced performance view for the selected object.
Select a resource category. Choose the category relevant to the question, such as CPU, memory, storage, or network.
Select one or more counters. Select related counters for the same object so that the chart can show context rather than one isolated value.
Select an instance where available. An instance may represent a particular virtual disk, network adapter, processor, or other monitored component.
Choose a time range. Use a short interval for a current incident and a longer interval for recurring patterns, growth, or capacity analysis.
Choose a suitable display. Select a chart presentation that makes the selected counters and their timing easy to compare.
Review the result. Check whether the chart answers the original question. Remove irrelevant counters, add related metrics, or change the time range if the result lacks context.

Navigation: Inventory object > Monitor > Performance > Advanced > Chart Options
Configuration: Resource category > Counter(s) > Instance, if available > Time range > Chart display

After configuring the chart, use the available export or print capability when the result must be included in an incident record, capacity review, or operational report.

Overview Charts Compared with Advanced Charts

Characteristic — Overview Charts — Advanced Charts

Primary purpose: Quick health and utilization assessment — Detailed investigation and analysis

Level of detail: High-level summary — Granular counter-level view

View type: Predefined selections — Customizable selections

Counter availability: Common summary metrics — Additional counters exposed through configuration

Typical use cases: Routine monitoring, rapid checks, initial assessment — Targeted troubleshooting, correlation, trend analysis, and reporting

Best troubleshooting stage: First-pass review — Follow-up investigation after an area of concern is identified

Export and print: Availability depends on the interface and view — Advanced output can be configured for export or printing when supported

Choosing the Appropriate Chart Type

Use the following practical workflow:

Start with an Overview chart when a predefined summary is sufficient.
Identify the resource category and time period that appear unusual.
Move to an Advanced chart when you need specific counters, multiple related metrics, a different time range, or exportable evidence.
Iterate until the chart answers a defined troubleshooting or planning question.

Investigation Goal — Object to Select — Recommended Chart Type — Why

Initial VM health check — Virtual machine — Overview — Provides a fast summary of the VM’s resource activity.

Host resource review — ESXi host — Overview first, then Advanced — Establishes a host-wide baseline before detailed counter analysis.

Custom counter analysis — VM or ESXi host — Advanced — Allows selection of the resource category, counter, and instance needed for the question.

Long-term utilization trend review — VM, ESXi host, or supported resource pool — Advanced — Provides a suitable time range and selected metrics for historical comparison.

Exporting evidence for a report — Relevant affected object — Advanced — Lets you configure and preserve the counters and period relevant to the report.

Interpreting Resource Constraints

A resource constraint is a condition in which available CPU, memory, storage, or network resources may limit workload performance. Charts help identify possible pressure, but interpretation requires comparing related metrics and correlating them with workload behavior.

CPU

High CPU utilization can indicate a busy workload, but it does not by itself prove that the VM or host is CPU-constrained. Compare CPU behavior with the reported symptom, scheduling or contention indicators where available, neighboring workloads, and the timing of workload events. A brief peak may be normal; a sustained pattern that aligns with degraded response is more significant.

Memory

Review memory activity with indicators of pressure or contention where available. A VM can show memory use without suffering a memory constraint. Compare the timing and severity of memory behavior with host capacity, other VMs, and the application symptom.

Storage

Storage-related investigation should consider activity and response behavior together. A high I/O rate may be expected for a workload, while high latency during the reported slowdown may indicate a storage bottleneck. Compare the affected VM with host or datastore context where the relevant views are available.

Network

Network throughput shows activity, not necessarily a network problem. Correlate throughput or packet-related behavior with the incident, interface or workload context, and any signs of errors or saturation exposed by the selected counters.

Trend Analysis with Historical Charts

Trend analysis means reviewing measurements over time to identify patterns, growth, periodic demand, or anomalies. Historical performance charts can reveal:

Recurring peaks at predictable times.
Gradual utilization growth that may create a future capacity risk.
Short-lived spikes that do not appear in a current snapshot.
Differences between normal load and incident periods.
Changes associated with deployments, backups, scheduled jobs, or other workload events.

Use different time windows for different questions. A short window helps correlate a current incident with an exact event. A longer window helps determine whether the event is periodic or part of a broader growth pattern. Document the selected object, counters, time range, observed peaks, and relevant workload events. Export or print the chart when the evidence will support capacity planning or operational reporting.

Practical Examples

Quickly Assess a Slow VM

Select the VM in the vSphere inventory.
Open Monitor, then Performance.
Review an Overview chart to identify whether a resource category appears unusually active or constrained.
Open Advanced and use Chart Options to inspect targeted counters for the suspected resource.
Compare the chart timing with the user-reported slowdown.

The outcome is a progression from summary monitoring to focused diagnosis. If the Overview chart only shows high activity, do not conclude that the resource is the bottleneck until more specific counters and timing provide supporting evidence.

Investigate an ESXi Host with Recurring Busy Periods

Select the affected ESXi host.
Open Monitor > Performance and review the available Overview charts.
Open Advanced charts and use Chart Options to select counters relevant to the suspected resource.
Use a longer time range to determine whether peaks occur at predictable times.
Compare related counters during affected and normal intervals.

This approach uses chart history to distinguish a recurring issue from an isolated event and can provide evidence for capacity analysis.

Build a Custom CPU Chart

Open the selected VM or host under Monitor > Performance > Advanced.
Open Chart Options.
Choose the CPU resource category.
Select appropriate CPU counters and instances where available.
Set a useful time range and compare the selected metrics on the resulting chart.

Produce Evidence for a Performance Incident

Create an Advanced chart containing the relevant counters and incident period.
Review the chart for peaks or behavior that aligns with the reported incident.
Export or print the chart using the available chart capability.
Include the selected object, time range, counters, and interpretation in the incident record.

Troubleshooting Chart-Based Investigations

The VM Is Slow, but the Overview Chart Only Shows High Activity

Treat the Overview result as an initial clue, not a conclusion.
Use Advanced charts to select more specific counters for the suspected resource.
Compare the timing of the chart behavior with the user-reported slowdown.

Key lesson: High activity alone does not prove that a resource is the limiting factor.

The ESXi Host Has Intermittent Performance Issues

Review a broader time window to determine whether the issue is periodic.
Use custom charts to examine relevant host resource metrics during affected intervals.
Compare multiple related counters instead of evaluating one metric in isolation.

Key lesson: Time correlation and related metrics are essential for identifying recurring constraints.

The Required Metric Is Not Visible in the Default View

Open the Advanced performance view.
Use Chart Options to locate the relevant resource category and counter.
Add the desired counter and regenerate the chart.

Key lesson: Advanced charts provide access to detailed counters beyond the predefined summary.

The Chart Does Not Provide Enough Context for a Capacity Decision

Expand the time range to review historical utilization.
Compare normal-load periods with peak periods.
Export the chart and include the observed trend in the capacity assessment.

Key lesson: Capacity decisions require trend data, not only a current snapshot.

Navigation by Inventory Object

Object — Starting Point — Navigation Path — Recommended First View

Virtual machine — Select the VM in the inventory — Monitor > Performance — Overview for a rapid health check.

ESXi host — Select the host in the inventory — Monitor > Performance — Overview for a host-wide resource summary.

Resource pool where supported — Select the resource pool in the inventory — Monitor > Performance — The available Overview view, followed by Advanced where detailed counters are needed.

Operational Checklist

Select the correct inventory object before interpreting the chart.
Start with an Overview chart for rapid assessment.
Record the reported symptom and its time.
Move to Advanced charts when the default view lacks the required detail.
Choose counters that answer a specific question.
Compare related metrics rather than relying on one utilization value.
Use a longer time range for recurring issues and capacity analysis.
Correlate peaks with workload, configuration, and infrastructure events.
Export or print useful evidence for documentation and reporting.

Performance charts are most effective as part of a repeatable workflow: select the affected object, review the Overview summary, identify a suspected resource, customize an Advanced chart, correlate the data with workload behavior, and preserve relevant evidence.

For related administration tasks, review adding an ESXi host to the vCenter Server inventory and alarms in vSphere.