# To use pods to maximize utilization of node resources instead of using that node as VM

**URL:** <https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/to-use-pods-to-maximize-utilization-of-node-resources-instead-of-using-that-node-as-vm/16424>\
**Category:** General Discussions\
**Created:** [June 20, 2021, 6:38pm UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/to-use-pods-to-maximize-utilization-of-node-resources-instead-of-using-that-node-as-vm/16424 "2021-06-20T18:38:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rm888](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@rm888](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/rm888)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2021, 6:38pm UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/to-use-pods-to-maximize-utilization-of-node-resources-instead-of-using-that-node-as-vm/16424/1 "2021-06-20T18:38:36Z")

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Use case:  
I run tests on VMs of having 6GB RAM and 4 core processors . I found that during test run load average never crosses 0.4 or 0.5 so that means my test can run lesser core and on lesser RAM so I thought why not create a pod with after setting some service and request limit for CPU and RAM and set number of pods limit for a node and try to squeeze in as many as many pods I can irrespective of node size considering I do not overdo it which led to memory leak or killing of container.

Doubt:  
Is this doable ?.I need pod to run tests and not to launch any webapp or load balance any application.I just want to increase utilization of VM so that I can save money and run more tests in parallel rather than on multiple VMs of average size and getting charged for all.I will be getting instance from Cloud so I can assign lower size VM to cater my needs but I am looking for generic solution where I can fit in more pods in VM of any size as Kubernetes cluster by just modifying some param based on size of VM I get.

Thanks for reading it.Please suggest.

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**Author:** ![rm888](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@rm888](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/rm888)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 3:58am UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/to-use-pods-to-maximize-utilization-of-node-resources-instead-of-using-that-node-as-vm/16424/2 "2021-06-22T03:58:19Z")

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Kindly suggest.

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**Author:** ![protosam](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.kubernetes.io/protosam/32/7732_2.png) [@protosam](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/protosam)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 1:16pm UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/to-use-pods-to-maximize-utilization-of-node-resources-instead-of-using-that-node-as-vm/16424/3 "2021-06-22T13:16:17Z")

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Have you tested it out? [This](https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/configuration/manage-resources-containers/) document explains managing resources for containers. Keep in mind the resources are enforced by the container runtime and the behavior may vary there.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![protosam](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.kubernetes.io/protosam/32/7732_2.png) [@protosam](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/u/protosam)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 1:18pm UTC](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/to-use-pods-to-maximize-utilization-of-node-resources-instead-of-using-that-node-as-vm/16424/4 "2021-06-22T13:18:39Z")

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Oh and there’s a max pod limit per node. It’s a [kublet setting](https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/command-line-tools-reference/kubelet/) (`--max-pods`).

There is also considerations for IP address limitations to consider as well. IP allocation is finite.