High CPU on Hyper-V VM
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Any clues as to the cause of constant, high CPU usage on a Hyper-V VM?
We have a 2012 R2 Host with 3 VM's running. The one in question is our main file server which also hosts our Anti-Virus Suite, Symantec Endpoint Protection Small Business Edition.
I've had this happen two Friday in two weeks. Both times, we had a PENDING Windows Update. (pending as in it lets me know there is an update to be downloaded but it does not download it for me until I do so myself)
The Services that grab the high CPU are...
SYSTEM
TASK MANAGER
Service Host Local System (Network Restricted) (8)
And under that are:Distributed Link Tracking Client
Hyper-V Data Exchange Service
Hyper-V Guest Shutdown Service
Hyper-V Volume Shadow Copy Requestor
Network Connections
Remote Desktop Services User Port Redirector
Smart Card Device Enumeration Service3
User Access Logging ServiceHowever, it is usually SYSTEM that grabs most of it...
Our Hyper-V system has run almost perfectly since went live late last March. The only common occurance was the notice that Windows Updates were available.
I have also given good thought to move our Anti-Virus suite to another VM on our second Hyper-V host. But since it really has had no problems until now, not sure if that is the fix.
There is no viruses or spyware on the file server. Nothing in the logs on both the VM or host that indicate any problems.
My goal is to prevent this from happening again as both times required production time reboots and the dang VM too forever to shutdown. It was THAT slow.
Any clues? It currently has 8GB of RAM and 2 virtual processors thrown at it.
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That it is a VM should only be a factor for measuring the performance, not for it being high. A VM is a physical machine as far as the OS is concerned.
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Is it running slowly? Or just reporting high? What does HyperV have to say about it?
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@scottalanmiller said:
Is it running slowly? Or just reporting high? What does HyperV have to say about it?
It slows down to an absolute crawl...file transfers would go from a few seconds to reporting 30+ minutes...I'd log into the VM and it would just take 3-5 minutes just to get to desktop...when I get to desktop, Task Manager also takes a few minutes to come up and then reports high usage...in this screenshot, the SYSTEM process was momentarily down to 6% but would always go back to the top with 60 or 70%
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@garak0410 Symantec Issue?
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Is it slamming the disk as well?
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@Aaron-Studer said:
@garak0410 Symantec Issue?
Well, it is a suspect but I've had no issues with it for almost a full year...
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@MattSpeller said:
Is it slamming the disk as well?
That I didn't check...good idea...but I do hope I don't have to encounter this again...management is wary right now.
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Patches though, they strike at any time.
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@garak0410 If it is hitting the disk hard check out NTFS restore points / mirroing / shadow copy/..... brain tired. you get the idea.
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@MattSpeller said:
@garak0410 If it is hitting the disk hard check out NTFS restore points / mirroing / shadow copy/..... brain tired. you get the idea.
We do run Shadow Copies....and here's the schedule:
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@garak0410 um, wasn't what I meant, but interesting none the less... check out here. Words escape me today. When it runs out of space and has to reclaim it I've had VM's fall to their knees in hyper-v.
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@MattSpeller said:
@garak0410 um, wasn't what I meant, but interesting none the less... check out here. Words escape me today. When it runs out of space and has to reclaim it I've had VM's fall to their knees in hyper-v.
Neither my host or the VM have the SYSTEM PROTECTION tab...I'm having a brain lock as to where else that could be so I can check...
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@garak0410 Might have been the same thing afterall, I've not played with server 2012 yet
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@MattSpeller said:
@garak0410 Might have been the same thing afterall, I've not played with server 2012 yet
It has the tab but it can be disabled from a registry key.
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Have you done any P2V's to this host recently?
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Have you tried disabling Symantec just for a little while to see if that is the issue?
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@Aaron-Studer said:
Have you tried disabling Symantec just for a little while to see if that is the issue?
It is happening right now...not at 100% but hovering between 25 and 75%, back and forth..., so I disabled (but not killed process) Symantec and CPU did drop..
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@garak0410 said:
@Aaron-Studer said:
Have you tried disabling Symantec just for a little while to see if that is the issue?
It is happening right now...not at 100% but hovering between 25 and 75%, back and forth..., so I disabled (but not killed process) Symantec and CPU did drop..
Time for a new AV. Also you should make sure File system scans are disabled at least during the day and use the on access protection for most of the time. You can do scans at night but make sure it does not interfere with backups.
