Suse Linux Enterprise Server 9, kernel 2.6.5-7.287.3-smp running on VMWare ESX 3.0.2 update 1. Tomcat 5.0.28 with JDK Java 1.5.0_13 running dotCMS content management system. After running several hours, Tomcat CPU usage spikes and performance becomes very sluggish. The same web application on an identically configured physical server does not appear to have this problem.
We've tried both the UP and SMP kernels in the event it was a HUGEMEM issue, no difference. We've tried giving the VM multiple CPUs and more RAM, no change. We've set the JVM settings to allow larger heap and stack sizes, and it makes no difference. At no time do the JVM stats indicate it's starved for any resources.
Stack traces of the JVM don't show any deadlocks. I'm running the JIP profiler with Tomcat so that I can profile what's happening when the CPU starts racing, and hopefully that will give some insight. I've also opened a suppor request with VMWare.
Any insight you might have is appreciated.
