High load in Integrity VM (4.0)

[squirrel_2]

Hi colleagues,

I currently have 11.31 2008/09 with Integrity VM 4.0 and two virtual machines, one SLES10 and one Windows Server 2003 SP2.

The VM with SLES10 is running "normally", which means that if it is idle, the host is also idle.

But the Windows VM always generates 100% SYS load, even if it is completely idle and the other SLES VM is shut down. (see attachment)

All tools are installed in both VMs.

Any ideas or a patch?

I already searched for it, but did not find anything. Maybe I used the wrong terms.

Thanks and regards!

[Eric SAUBIGNAC]

Bonjour Ebbi,

As a first workaround, you can now limit usage of CPU with the maximum_percent value of entitlement :

hpvmmodify -e percent[:maximum_percent] -P YourVM

Default is 100%

Eric

[squirrel_2]

Thanks Eric,

but the problem is that I also want to use the Windows VM. If I limit the CPU usage, then my virtual Windows system is less powerful than the linux system.

[Eric SAUBIGNAC]

Well, do you really need 4 virtual CPU on each VM ? Most of my client, running Oracle database don't. May be you could also make a test with just one virtual CPU to see if the symptoms are the same ?

What kind of application are you running in this VM ? I mean do you have software that could work at very low level, generating lot of interrupts ?

And just a point to clarify to your initial post : usage of CPU in mode SYS at host level is normal. What is not normal, of course is the 100%

Eric

[Duncan Edmonstone · Accepted solution]

What version of the smart setup media did you use? Was it prior to v5?

There's a known issue which causes systems to run at 100% CPU on dual core CPUs when SSM versions prior to v5 are used. The fix is to go to Add/Remove Programs and remove the PalHaltLightRegEdit component.

It's mentioned in the re;ease notes here. although annoyingly it doesn't describe the 100% CPU utilisation...

http://docs.hp.com/en/T2767-90179/ch04s01.html#palhaltreglight_section

HTH

Duncan

[squirrel_2]

@Eric
> Well, do you really need 4 virtual CPU on
> each VM ? Most of my client, running
> Oracle database don't. May be you could
> also make a test with just one virtual
> CPU to see if the symptoms are the same?

The thing is that I need flexibility, which is one of the key advantages of vitualization. If I'm unable to use all 4 CPUs once I need it, I'm not flexible anymore. :-)

> What kind of application are you running
> in this VM ? I mean do you have software
> that could work at very low level,
> generating lot of interrupts ?

Basically the machine is used for testing in SAP environments.
But once again (maybe I didn't state that clearly enough):
The CLEAN Windows VM generates 100% SYS load, even when it is idle. There is no application installed yet, just a fresh Windows installation with all patches. :-/

@Duncan:
> What version of the smart setup media did
> you use? Was it prior to v5?

No, it was the last and lastest EBSU for the rx5670, which is 5.1.

[Eric SAUBIGNAC]

Ok Ebbi, but just to see make a test with only one virtual CPU. Stop the VM, hpvmmodify -c 1 ..., retstart the VM

Don't know if it is relevant, but in "Patches Required for Windows Guests" from HPVM 4.0 release notes :

- Affected Guest OS and Version : Windows Server 2003
- Affected Integrity VM Version : A.02.00 or later
- Fix : SSM 4.6
- Description/Impact : Bug fix
- Comment : Microsoft patches correct a compiler issue that can affect Windows guests in various ways.

Eric

[squirrel_2]

> but just to see make a test with only one
> virtual CPU. Stop the VM, hpvmmodify -c 1
> ..., restart the VM

Done.
One CPU result in 100% SYS load for just one CPU instead of all four.
"Integrity Virtual Machines Manager" in SMH shows 24% VM Host CPU Utilization for an empty idle Windows.

As a comparison:

The idle SLES10 shows nearly no load for SYS and in SMH.

[squirrel_2]

@Duncan:

That did the trick! ;-)

I removed the PalHaltLightRegEdit component and now my idle Windows shows 1,8% SYS load in top.

[Eric SAUBIGNAC]

OK test done and ... grrr ... nothing obvious.

Re-read installation guide and release notes, found nothing but recommandations around patches, guest depot, etc ... "All tools are installed in both VMs." I suppose that you have carefully follow all advices from those books ?

Last thing before suggesting you to place a call to HP support : could you post an "hpvmstatus -V -P YourVM" (-V in capital letter)

Eric