Windows Server 2008 R2 Freeze

[Akeloos]

Hi,

I try to install Windows Server 2008 R2 (RTM) on ESXi4 (Full patch).

During install process VM freeze and if the install complete successfully VM freeze too.

No message : eventlog or ESXi

I don't understand the problem... I test on different hardware same issue.

If you are an idea ! :smileywink:

Regards,

[filip_n]

Don't install VMWare Tools. Without it Win2008R2 machines won't freeze.

Filip

[vAdmin]

hm.. that's interesting, I'm still stuck in installing Win2k8 R2 on the ESXi 4, even after i selected the profile (experimental) it always stop in the first screen of detecting device driver :-|

Kind Regards,

AWT

[Joshua_Mally]

is windows 2008 32 bit or 64 bit??

Make intet-VT or AMD-V is enabled on the BIOS of ESX server.

VT is required for all 64bit OS

If you found this information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful". Thanks!!!

-Josh

Trying to learn

[Akeloos]

WS2008R2 is only in x64.

Of course VT is enabled.

Regards,

[vAdmin]

Yes Josh, I've enabled that on the BIOS already :smileyhappy:

Kind Regards,

AWT

[vAdmin]

Hi All,

I've successfully installed the Windows Server 2008 R2 using the profile of Windows Server 2008 R2 (Experimental) all configured ith the default hardware selection and it is still working fine until now even after installing the VMWare tools. This is the DVD from Microsoft Partner website SWDVD5_Windows_Svr_2008_R2_x64_ENG_1_ProdAct_X15-50365.ISO_

Please be advised that during the first installation of WIndows Server 2008 R2, there will be a moment where your screen goes blank in about 5 minutes, this is normal and keep it in that way, eventually it will continue to resume back to normal.

hope this helps.

Cheers.

Kind Regards,

AWT

[alvinswim]

try a different Ethernet adaptor.. instead of the E1000 try VMXNET2 or 3

[chaz112182]

ive just experienced this same behavior on several vms running on hp dl380 g5 esxi 4

[vAdmin]

That's right man, you're not alone here :-|

somehow it only happens to the WIndows Server OS 64 bit all versions.

Kind Regards,

AWT

[chaz112182]

at least im not the only one. i just downloaded server 2008 w. sp2 and am about to install and configure .. will report back with any issues.

[chaz112182]

just reporting back that the windows server 2008 SP2 download does not produce the same behavior. have two vm's running now and have not had any issues. it appears that this isssue is strictly w/ 2008 R2, at least in my testing.

[vAdmin]

Hi Chaz,

Yes, I have one Windows Server 2008 Std. x64 SP2 and it works fine as well, backup online with VCB and Backup Exec is all good.

so far the problem only occurs in Windows Server 2003 x64 and Windows Server 2008 R2 x64.

I wonder if people in the industry have the workaround for this in production environment ?

Kind Regards,

AWT

[bluemoon]

Hi,

same here. I installed Windows 2008 R2 x64 on DL360 G6, DL365 G6 and ML 350 G5. It suddenly and nearly non-reproducible freezes. I can start a RDP session but not with the user (Administrator) logged into the console. I just was able to log in with another user (Domain-Admin) but when logging off, the session again freezes. I can not restart it via VMTools, I have to reset the machine.

I think it happens a bit more often when scrolling fast in the Explorer, especially in the folder tree.

Cheers,

Chris

[admin]

I believe that Microsoft has introduced an e1000 driver bug in Windows Server 2008 R2, and this bug can cause the OS to hang. As a previous poster has suggested, you may want to try converting your NIC(s) to vmxnet3.

[LucasAlbers]

i used vmxnet3 driver.

I installed and have been running with sql server 2008 sp1, and hammering the crap out of it for at least a week with no lockups.

I installed all the vmware tools.

This is on a dell r905 and 710 hosts with 1817xx version of esxi.

[DSTAVERT]

This is about Server 2008 Release 2 not Server 2008 which would be Release 1.

[admin]

Microsoft has introduced a bug in the e1000 driver with Windows Server 2008 R2. This bug can cause the OS to lock up, and it would be consistent with your positive results after switching to vmxnet3.

[Akeloos]

I change my DVD image by "Windows Server 2008 R2 retail", problem solve.

[vAdmin]

Yes so far i'm able to install it with the proper release of Windows Server 2008 R2, but the backup using VCB will give you the following error:

"*VCB Error: Cannot create a quiesced snapshot because the create

snapshot operation exceeded the time limit for holding off I/O in the

frozen virtual machine*"

Kind Regards,

AWT

[Phallon]

I've been running VMxnet3 since I installed my first (and only) 2008 R2 test box. I've gotten a few random lockups and came hunting for information and found this thread.

I've never had a e1000 installed on my 2008 R2 test guest, so I think we can rule that out.

Devin Noel

[Phallon]

http://communities.vmware.com/thread/218244?start=0&tstart=0

It's a buggy VMware video driver.

[Antman147]

I too am having lock up issues, however i am using Windows Server 2008 R2 (RTM) as the Host for VMware Server v2.01.

I have the Host machine (Win2k8 R2 RTM), also a Guest machine (Win2k8 R2 RTM), however i regularly get lock ups transferring files across the network.

From my desktop PC, if i attempt to copy an ISO file from a share on the Host Machine to a share on the Guest Machine it will freeze the entire Host Server (including all virtual machines).

This lock up occurs from a clean bootup, with no remote desktop access.

VMware tools is installed on the Guest Machine, and the Network Card in use is the E1000 Device, i will attempt to use a VMX device (if that is possible via VMware Server) and report back.

Is there an existing thread under VMware Server for this issue, or has it only been reported here so far?

[Antman147]

Looks like for the moment my problems were based around some form of Incompatibility Issue between the Asus P5K SE Motherboard and Windows 2008 R2 (RTM) and not something to do with VMware, as i had uninstalled VMware and was sitll having issues copying from the host PC. (Doh).

However, now i have re-installed using standard Win2k8 Server 64Bit (RTM) and no longer have issues copying files to and from the host.

[NHessonSD21]

Has there been a fix for this?

I have 2 x DL380 G5, that freeze only with 2008 R2 VMs. I have and currently ran Windows 2003 and 2008 64-bit VM's without one issue. The only freeze issues I have seen on vmware products is with Windows 2008 R2.

Please let us know if someone has found a fix?

Thanks,

Nick

Go Chargers!

[Formatter]

Uninstall the VMware video driver and it should work fine.

[spasquariello]

Does anyone know if this is still an issue with 2008 R2? I deployed a new VM that is giving me the same issue. The KB article listed above, http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1011709, mentioned the easiest way to avoid this issues it to upgrade to 4.0 updated 1. All of our hosts are on update 1 but it looks like I am still having this issue. If anyone has any additional info I would appreciate it. Thanks.

[DeaconZ]

I'm having a similar problem with the 2008 R2 vm freezing when I connect an ISO to the CD drive. As soon as I disconnect the virtual CD drive it unfreezes.

[spasquariello]

I resolved my issue by uninstalling the vmware svga driver and installing the standard driver. Apparently this was fixed in 4.0 update 1 (which we are on) but still saw the issue.

[DeaconZ]

Upon further investigation it appears my problem is only with a particular ISO file for a program called NewSID. When I mount another ISO like the Windows media, its fine. NewSID is a Win32 app which is why it doesn't like 64 bit Windows.