topic Re: Can't launch two VMs with less RAM requirements than physically available RAM - why? in VMware Workstation Pro Discussions

Can't launch two VMs with less RAM requirements than physically available RAM - why?

WhiteKnight — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 13:48:32 GMT

On my Windows 10x64 host, equipped with 32 GB RAM and virtual memory disabled, I have two VMs set up with 12 GB RAM alloted to each of them (first is Workstation 15 hardware, the second one is Workstation 16 hardware).

When I try to run both of them, I get the following error message when trying to start the second one:

There should be enough free RAM available:

What's causing this error?

Re: Can't launch two VMs with less RAM requirements than physically available RAM - why?

bluefirestorm — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 14:18:08 GMT

I think the anonymous paging file is referring to the .vmem file that is created upon power on of the VM. Its default location is where the VM is located and its size is equal to the configurated RAM of the VM. So the 12GB VM power up will create a 12GB vmem file. So make sure that there is enough available free SSD/HDD space. There is a way to turn it off but that's a different discussion.

Re: Can't launch two VMs with less RAM requirements than physically available RAM - why?

WhiteKnight — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 15:50:04 GMT

I don't think that's the case in my situation. I have 244 GB of free space on the drive that's hosting my virtual machines:

Does my config.ini perhaps chime a bell:

.encoding = "UTF-8"
mainMem.useNamedFile = "FALSE"
devices.hotplug = "FALSE"
authd.client.port = "903"
authd.proxy.nfc = "vmware-hostd:ha-nfc"
installerDefaults.autoSoftwareUpdateEnabled = "yes"
installerDefaults.autoSoftwareUpdateEnabled.epoch = "18954"
installerDefaults.componentDownloadEnabled = "yes"
installerDefaults.dataCollectionEnabled = "yes"
installerDefaults.dataCollectionEnabled.epoch = "18954"
prefvmx.minVmMemPct = "100"
priority.grabbed = "high"

Re: Can't launch two VMs with less RAM requirements than physically available RAM - why?

a_p_ — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 18:14:48 GMT

I have about the same hardware specs, and running several VM is not an issue.
I've configured the memory setting as follows:

André

Re: Can't launch two VMs with less RAM requirements than physically available RAM - why?

continuum — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 19:19:31 GMT

Why are you surprised ?

You cant have

physicalRAM = 32gb
pagefile = 0
memfile = 0
total VM RAM = 24gb
prefvmx.minVmMemPct = "100"

it may work with

physicalRAM = 32gb
pagefile = 0
memfile = 0
total VM RAM = 16gb
prefvmx.minVmMemPct = "100"

With
mainMem.useNamedFile = "true"
you should be able to run 2 VMs a 12gb

With
prefvmx.minVmMemPct = "50"
mainMem.useNamedFile = "true"
you should be able to run 3 VMs a 12gb

With
pagefile = 32gb
prefvmx.minVmMemPct = "10"
mainMem.useNamedFile = "true"
you should be able to run 5 VMs a 12gb or even more

Read
http://faq.sanbarrow.com/index.php?action=artikel&cat=78&id=116&artlang=en
http://faq.sanbarrow.com/index.php?action=artikel&cat=78&id=76&artlang=en
http://faq.sanbarrow.com/index.php?action=artikel&cat=78&id=78&artlang=en

Re: Can't launch two VMs with less RAM requirements than physically available RAM - why?

WhiteKnight — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 20:03:30 GMT

Nice to see you again, Ulli

Actually, this is my memory setting:

In Workstation 15 this wasn't an issue yet.

I'd expect the following to be true: 2 * 12 GB = 24 GB. 28 GB is larger than 24 GB. So, both VMs should launch flawlessly. Where's my mistake?

Re: Can't launch two VMs with less RAM requirements than physically available RAM - why?

continuum — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 20:11:01 GMT

Hi
you forgot to also add the video RAM - and keep in mind that with pagefile = 0 the host needs to be extra careful when allocating RAM to applications.

Ulli

Re: Can't launch two VMs with less RAM requirements than physically available RAM - why?

WhiteKnight — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 20:29:01 GMT

Ah, yes, Workstation 16 raised the default value from 1GB to 8GB. I lowered it to 1GB now, so both VMs use 1GB.

Still, it doesn't work. 2 * (12 + 1)GB ... are there still some hidden requirements?

BTW: The label for this option reads: "Maximum amount of guest memory that can be used for graphics memory:" So, I tend to believe the value entered here is taken from the guest memory amount, not added...?

Re: Can't launch two VMs with less RAM requirements than physically available RAM - why?

continuum — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 20:55:57 GMT

> 28 GB is larger than 24 GB

That slider in the UI was created when the host operating system was NT , Win2000 or XP - compared to those light-weight systems Windows 10 is a big fat behemoth.
I bet that the calculation available RAM minus 10 % equals RAM-available for VMs is way to optimistic for Windows 10 hosts.

Re: Can't launch two VMs with less RAM requirements than physically available RAM - why?

WhiteKnight — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 12:54:38 GMT

Maybe ... But have a look at my Task Manager screenshot above. After having started VM #1 I still have 14 GB of free memory.

That should be more than enough to launch VM #2, don't you think so?

Re: Can't launch two VMs with less RAM requirements than physically available RAM - why?

xishengzhang — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 06:34:45 GMT

Hello, WhiteKnight

Thanks a lot for your posting. Can I confirm with you whether you have your hyper-v or vbs enabled on your host? Could you please check the value of working set for vmx process in task manager on your host after you have the 12G memory VM started up? Thanks.

Re: Can't launch two VMs with less RAM requirements than physically available RAM - why?

WhiteKnight — Sat, 05 Dec 2020 13:14:08 GMT

Hi @xishengzhang

thank you for taking the time.

On my host I don't have Hyper-V enabled. I've got it enabled in the guest, though.

Here's a screenshot of Task Manager, depicting all the VMware parts:

Does this information help you?

Re: Can't launch two VMs with less RAM requirements than physically available RAM - why?

sorspet — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 19:03:20 GMT

Workaround is to add following into C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware Workstation\config.ini.

prefvmx.useRecommendedLockedMemSize = "FALSE"
prefvmx.minVmMemPct = "0"

Restart!

Done!

Re: Can't launch two VMs with less RAM requirements than physically available RAM - why?

jen2 — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 10:44:35 GMT

It is most likely because of this bug https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-Workstation-Player/BUG-4GB-Graphic-memory-will-be-reserved-no-matter-what/m-p/2898299

Every machine will use more 4GB to the ram for the 3D Graphic support!

If you run 2 machines that is 8 more GB.

Don't expect this bug to be fixed anytime soon, a temporary fix is to disable 3d support but you will get slower machine