Very low Host CPU consumption

[Szuwi]

Hi all.

I have ESXi installed for testing on HP DC 7800 2x2.6 GHz C2D E6750, Im trying to install Windows Server 2008 x64 on Virtual Machine, and it takes very long time. Im wondering, why during this installation the CPU usage is so low, because its equal to about 300MHz. I made a reservation about 1,8GHz, but it doesn't help...

whats wrong with my VMWare??

thamks for any help

regards

Michal

[AntonVZhbankov]

Check if you set CPU limit for VM.

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VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[Szuwi]

No, i have Unlimited boc checked in CPU resources

best regards

Michal S.

[AntonVZhbankov]

What is "very long time"? An hour, two, five?

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VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[Szuwi]

I started the installation about 5 hours ago (now it shows 82% Expanding files).. at the begining of the installation CPU resources was normal (about 2,6 GHz) but after 5 minutes it has lowered to 300 MHz

In Resource Allocation the CPU Available Capacity is 490 MHz at this time...

MichalS

[AntonVZhbankov]

Open Performance tab and check memory for swapping activity.

I suppose you just ran out of memory, so VM is swapping heavily.

How much memory did you configure for this VM?

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VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[anujmodi1]

Check the resxtop with RCLI and compare the cpu usage on that gives you more realtime picture of resource useage.

Anuj Modi,

If you found my answer to be useful, feel free to mark it as Helpful or Correct.

The latest blogs and articles on Virtulization:

http://communities.vmware.com/blogs/amodi

[Szuwi]

My Physical RAM is configured:

Total: 2025,6 MB

Virtual machines:1657 MB

yes, the swap is still growing...

MichalS

[AntonVZhbankov]

Select VM with win2008, it will show you hou much memory is configured for VM.

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VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[Szuwi]

Sorry, but its my first contact with VMware software tis is my Resource Allocation,

I created the VM by default settings (Typical settings in creator)

regards

MichalS

[AntonVZhbankov · Accepted solution]

As I see, you have configured 8GB RAM for VM and actually you have only 2GB physical.

Pwoer VM off, edit VM settings and allocate no more than 1GB to VM.

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VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[Szuwi]

I did how you suggested, and it works now , great thanks, I thought that ESXi can relocate more than the pshysical RAM to swap file...

best regards

Michal

[AntonVZhbankov]

Yes, it can, and actually did. But swapping memory is very slow.

You can allocate more memory than you have without visible impact in one case only: if you have a lot of VMs with low memory activity. So SUM of VMs memory is more than physical memory, but SUM of VMs active memory MUST be less than physical memory. Example from life - you place 8 servers with 1GB memory each and 25% memory load on ESX with 6GB.

6GB - 1GB (ESX itself) - 810.25 = approx 3GB memory free. Also, such arithmetics applies to steady situation only, when all VMs are powered some time ago and VMware tools are runnning for each VM.

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VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[Szuwi]

thanks for the exhausting response:)

best regards

Michal