8G RAM on Host, but vmware will only use 4G

[jsg1]

Hi,

Is there a 4G limit to Workstation 5? We just upgraded a vmware host from 4G to 8G of RAM and even though the "Reserverd Memory" in "Preferences" shows 7191, the maximum available is never more than 4G.

I understand that each VM can't have more than 4G, but If I power up two machines with 1.7G each (for example), if I try to power up a 3rd one, it says only 200M if left for use.

Help

[KevinG]

What is your host OS?

Post the vmware.log file from the 3rd VM that fails to power on

[jsg1]

Host OS is SUSE 10.2

Here's the relevant section of the log (should I post the whole thing)?

Mar 17 13:12:59: vmx| DICT --- GLOBAL SETTINGS

Mar 17 13:12:59: vmx| Msg_Hint: msg.hostlinux.othervms (not shown)

Mar 17 13:12:59: vmx| WSSCAN: reserved mem (in MB) min=32 max=7904 recommended=7904

Mar 17 13:12:59: vmx| hostMem=8000 maxAllowedAll=4096 maxAllowedVM=3600

Mar 17 13:12:59: vmx| totOverhead=16

Mar 17 13:12:59: vmx| WSSCAN: used rec mem (in MB) 7904

Mar 17 13:12:59: vmx| WSSCAN: Overhead 397553 paged 8081 nonpaged 4096 maxFBSize

Mar 17 13:12:59: vmx| WSSCAN 3 676594 2023424 -1 2023424 -1 50 509281

Mar 17 13:12:59: vmx| LICENSE using: '/home/build/.vmware/license.ws.5.0'

Mar 17 13:12:59: vmx| Msg_Post: Error

Mar 17 13:12:59: vmx| http://msg.wslimits.maxRamAllVMs.bad The total amount of memory in use by all virtual machines will exceed the limit for VMware Workstation if this virtual machine is powered on. Currently 336 MB of the total memory limit is unused. If you wish to power on this virtual machine now, please either configure it with at most 336 MB of memory or first power off other virtual machine(s).

Mar 17 13:12:59: vmx| -

---

Mar 17 13:13:01: vmx| Module WSLimits power on failed.

[Peter_vm]

Do you run HUGE memory kernel on your host to address 8GB of RAM?

Also check /etc/vmware/config file This line does not seem right "maxAllowedAll=4096".

[jsg1]

Not sure about the kernel, I will certainly try that, I have the "default" SUSE kernel...

1. uname -a

Linux enzo 2.6.18.2-34-default #1 SMP Mon Nov 27 11:46:27 UTC 2006 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

As for the config, that value is not in there, must be a default... I tried putting it in, but I must have the wrong format for it:

enzo:/etc/vmware # cat config

vmnet1.hostonlyaddress = "192.168.190.1"

vmnet1.hostonlynetmask = "255.255.255.0"

control.fullpath = "/usr/bin/vmware-cmd"

loop.fullpath = "/usr/bin/vmware-loop"

dhcpd.fullpath = "/usr/bin/vmnet-dhcpd"

libdir = "/usr/lib/vmware"

vmware.fullpath = "/usr/bin/vmware"

enzo:/etc/vmware #

[KevinG]

You do not need HUGE memory kernel since you are running a 64-bit kernel

You currently have VMware Workstation configured to only use 4096 (4GB) of your host memory.

Look at /etc/vmware/config file "maxAllowedAll=4096"

Try changing it to "7168" (This will leave some memory for the host OS)

Restart Workstation

[jsg1]

As I said, that variable is not in my /etc/vmware/config, however, I think I have it.

I set perms of /etc/vmware/config and /etc/vmare to 777 and then changed the value in Edit -> Preferences -> Memory to have it saved to the config and the new variable showed up.enzo:/boot # cat /etc/SuSE-release

openSUSE 10.2 (X86-64)

VERSION = 10.2

enzo:/boot # chmod 777 /etc/vmware/

enzo:/boot # chmod 777 /etc/vmware/config

enzo:/boot # cat /etc/vmware/config

vmnet1.hostonlyaddress = "192.168.190.1"

vmnet1.hostonlynetmask = "255.255.255.0"

control.fullpath = "/usr/bin/vmware-cmd"

loop.fullpath = "/usr/bin/vmware-loop"

dhcpd.fullpath = "/usr/bin/vmnet-dhcpd"

libdir = "/usr/lib/vmware"

vmware.fullpath = "/usr/bin/vmware"

prefvmx.useRecommendedLockedMemSize = "TRUE"

prefvmx.allVMMemoryLimit = "7061"

enzo:/boot #

I can't restart the VM right now, but I'll try shortly.

[Peter_vm · Accepted solution]

Didn't you say that you have VMware Workstation 5.x ?

Then yes, it has a limit of maximum of 4GB for all running virtual machines.

Upgrade to VMware Workstation 6.x to have that limit lifted.

[jsg1]

Ah, well, that explains it... I didn't find any reference to that limit in the docs. We are planning on upgrading all our hosts with WS6 soon.

Thanks.