4.0 100% cpu usage in Host

Discussion in 'Installation and Configuration of Parallels Desktop' started by ebatte, Nov 15, 2008.

  1. ebatte

    ebatte Member

    Messages:
    20
    LOTS of people are having serious issues with 4.0. I am one of them. I spent about an hour on the phone with tech support with a guy who did nothing but tell me to reboot and stuff like that. Useless. My problem was escalated at which point I was transferred, stayed on hold for another 20 minutes and was finally disconnected by the auto attendant because too many people were calling in. I hope Parallels have learned their lesson with this release.

    Now that my rant is out of the way let me offer some insight into my problem which I have not seen mentioned on these forums:

    I'm running Mac OS 10.5.5 on a MacBook Pro 17", 2.6 ghz Intel Core Duo with 4 GB RAM (about 5 months old). After installing 4.0 and migrating my XP VM I noticed 100% cpu usage by the prl_vm_app process in the Mac OS Activity Monitor. The host was almost unusable. I was unable to resolve this so I created a new VM, reinstalled XP, all service packs and the few applications I need in XP. Same problem...100% cpu usage, but this time it was not the same process it was the Parallels Desktop process.

    Tweaking the VM settings had no effect. I disabled nearly everything in the configuration with no effect whatsoever.

    After more investigation I have noticed that the cpu usage in the host increases the moment the guest window is opened in Parallels. This is REGARDLESS of whether the guest is running, suspended, or off. It also makes no difference what OS the guest is. I have also tried with several VMs I downloaded from Parallels. Same thing: open the guest window and cpu usage skyrockets, and stays there even when the VM is not yet even started.

    Furthermore, I noted that the cpu usage in the guest is nil while the host is going crazy. This problem therefore seems to be simply with something in Parallels itself, as the guest OS or state makes no difference.

    I hope this info helps someone at Parallels diagnose this problem. Maybe others of you can check to see if you have the same cpu usage in Activity Monitor, too.

    Eric
     
  2. peterwtie

    peterwtie Bit poster

    Messages:
    2
    Parallels v 4.0 high CPU usage - proposed solution

    Below I have posted my configuration and a possible solution to excessive CPU usage in Parallels V 4.0.

    MacBook Pro
    Mac OS X 10.5.5
    4 GB memory
    Mac applications running:
    Safari, Firefox, Mail, TextEdit, CaptureOne, Aperture, Activity Monitor

    Windows Vista

    Coherent Mode

    Parallels v 4.0

    Coherent Mode

    Problem: Excessive CPU usage by Paralles software (prl_vm_app)

    Parallels CPU usage 99.8%

    Virtual Machine > Configure > auto > memory > 512 MB


    Performance Improvement:

    Stop Virtual Machine

    Parallels > Preferences > Memory > Manually > 2048 MB

    Virtual Machine > Configuration > Memory > 2008 MB

    Re-boot computer. and re-start Virtual Machine

    AVG CPU Usage

    Idle CPU 20 % > 8 %

    Firefox only 36 %

    Outlook + Firefox 40 %

    * percentages may vary on other systems

    I submit that a fourfold increase in real memory allocation to Parallels resulted in a significant reduction in paging activity and freeing of cpu cycles.

    Check it out!

    Peter Schenk
     
  3. eread

    eread Member

    Messages:
    80
    I'll have to see if I forgot to up the default memory.

    I have found, however, that setting the Adaptive Hypervisor on and allowing the VM access to both CPUs (in my case) helps. One CPU being smashed 100% seems to slow the machine down even if the other is relatively idle. Have 2 CPUs at (sometimes) 80% each is better. I won't put up with it forever, but it makes Parallels useable.
     
  4. Juankr

    Juankr Member

    Messages:
    22
    Me too... the cpu works with start windows (100%-105%)
    Solution???
     
  5. ebatte

    ebatte Member

    Messages:
    20
    This might decrease cpu usage for prl_vm_app, but not for the Parallels Desktop process in my case. Again, if I merely open the guest window with the guest OFF the cpu usage is instantly 100%.
     
  6. peterwtie

    peterwtie Bit poster

    Messages:
    2
    memory allocation revision

    Have revised memory allocation:

    Parallels - 2048 MB

    VM machine - 1024 MB

    I only use one Virtual Machine, so I have no experience with 'Guest VM'

    Peter Schenk
     
  7. Juankr

    Juankr Member

    Messages:
    22
    yes... but nothing...
     
  8. ebatte

    ebatte Member

    Messages:
    20
    Peter, the Guest VM is your Virtual Machine. The Host is Mac OS and the Guest is the Virtual Machine...in this case Windows XP.

    In what I describe, there is no cpu usage in Windows, but 100% cpu usage in Mac OS.
     
  9. ebatte

    ebatte Member

    Messages:
    20
    If this is any help below is a sample of the Parallels Desktop process taken when the Guest window is open, but the Guest is shutdown (during the 100% cpu usage time):

    Sampling process 7573 for 3 seconds with 1 millisecond of run time between samples
    Sampling completed, processing symbols...
    Analysis of sampling prl_client_app (pid 7573) every 1 millisecond
    Call graph:
    2049 Thread_2503
    2049 start
    2049 start
    2049 start
    2049 QCoreApplication::exec()
    2049 QEventLoop::exec(QFlags<QEventLoop::processEventsFlag>)
    2049 QEventLoop::processEvents(QFlags<QEventLoop::processEventsFlag>)
    2049 QEventDispatcherMac::processEvents(QFlags<QEventLoop::processEventsFlag>)
    2049 CFRunLoopRunInMode
    2049 CFRunLoopRunSpecific
    2049 mach_msg
    2049 mach_msg_trap
    2049 mach_msg_trap
    2049 Thread_2603
    2049 thread_start
    2049 _pthread_start
    2049 uuid_unpack
    2049 0x13f77af5
    2049 uuid_unpack
    2049 uuid_unpack
    2049 uuid_unpack
    2049 uuid_unpack
    2049 uuid_unpack
    2049 uuid_unpack
    2049 select$DARWIN_EXTSN$NOCANCEL
    2049 select$DARWIN_EXTSN$NOCANCEL
    2049 Thread_2703
    2049 thread_start
    2049 _pthread_start
    2049 uuid_unpack
    2049 PrlApi_GetRemoteDeviceRegistration
    2049 uuid_unpack
    2049 uuid_unpack
    2049 uuid_unpack
    2049 uuid_unpack
    2049 uuid_unpack
    2049 uuid_unpack
    2049 select$DARWIN_EXTSN$NOCANCEL
    2049 select$DARWIN_EXTSN$NOCANCEL
    2049 Thread_2803
    2049 thread_start
    2049 _pthread_start
    2049 uuid_unpack
    2049 PrlDisk_GetSnapshotsCount
    2049 uuid_unpack
    2049 pthread_cond_wait
    2049 _pthread_cond_wait
    2049 semaphore_wait_signal_trap
    2049 semaphore_wait_signal_trap
    2049 Thread_2903
    2049 thread_start
    2049 _pthread_start
    2049 uuid_unpack
    2049 PrlDisk_GetSnapshotsCount
    2049 PrlDisk_GetSnapshotsCount
    2049 PrlDisk_GetSnapshotsCount
    2049 recvmsg$NOCANCEL$UNIX2003
    2049 recvmsg$NOCANCEL$UNIX2003
    2049 Thread_2a03
    2049 thread_start
    2049 _pthread_start
    2049 QThreadPrivate::start(void*)
    2041 lic_reinitialize_storage
    1368 CFRunLoopRun
    937 CFRunLoopRunSpecific
    672 __CFRunLoopFindMode
    583 CFSetGetValue
    505 __CFSetFindBuckets1b
    168 __CFStringHash
    168 __CFStringHash
    151 __CFSetFindBuckets1b
    77 CFEqual
    43 CFEqual
    34 __CFRunLoopModeEqual
    24 CFEqual
    24 CFEqual
    10 __CFRunLoopModeEqual
    59 CFHash
    59 CFHash
    46 _CFHash
    46 _CFHash
    4 __CFRunLoopModeHash
    4 __CFRunLoopModeHash
    62 CFSetGetValue
    8 _CFHash
    8 _CFHash
    4 __CFStringHash
    4 __CFStringHash
    3 CFHash
    3 CFHash
    1 __CFRunLoopModeHash
    1 __CFRunLoopModeHash
    82 __CFRunLoopFindMode
    7 _CFRuntimeSetInstanceTypeID
    7 _CFRuntimeSetInstanceTypeID
    107 CFRunLoopRunSpecific
    100 __spin_lock
    100 __spin_lock
    47 __CFRunLoopModeIsEmpty
    47 __CFRunLoopModeIsEmpty
    7 dyld_stub_OSSpinLockLock
    7 dyld_stub_OSSpinLockLock
    3 spin_unlock
    3 spin_unlock
    1 spin_lock
    1 spin_lock
    163 _CFRunLoop0
    98 CFDictionaryGetValue
    53 __CFDictionaryFindBuckets1a
    53 __CFDictionaryFindBuckets1a
    45 CFDictionaryGetValue
    48 _CFRunLoop0
    13 pthread_main_np
    13 pthread_main_np
    4 spin_unlock
    4 spin_unlock
    135 __spin_lock
    135 __spin_lock
    56 CFRunLoopRun
    26 CFRunLoopGetCurrent
    25 CFRunLoopGetCurrent
    1 pthread_self
    1 pthread_self
    15 dyld_stub_OSSpinLockLock
    15 dyld_stub_OSSpinLockLock
    10 dyld_stub_OSSpinLockUnlock
    10 dyld_stub_OSSpinLockUnlock
    9 spin_unlock
    9 spin_unlock
    6 dyld_stub_pthread_main_np
    6 dyld_stub_pthread_main_np
    5 spin_lock
    5 spin_lock
    3 dyld_stub_pthread_self
    3 dyld_stub_pthread_self
    2 pthread_self
    2 pthread_self
    1 pthread_main_np
    1 pthread_main_np
    608 QWaitCondition::wakeAll()
    223 __spin_lock
    223 __spin_lock
    95 pthread_mutex_lock
    95 pthread_mutex_lock
    87 pthread_mutex_unlock
    87 pthread_mutex_unlock
    86 pthread_cond_broadcast
    86 pthread_cond_broadcast
    48 QWaitCondition::wakeAll()
    23 report_error(int, char const*, char const*)
    23 report_error(int, char const*, char const*)
    15 dyld_stub__spin_unlock
    15 dyld_stub__spin_unlock
    14 dyld_stub__spin_lock
    14 dyld_stub__spin_lock
    9 spin_lock
    9 spin_lock
    5 __i686.get_pc_thunk.bx
    5 __i686.get_pc_thunk.bx
    3 spin_unlock
    3 spin_unlock
    17 report_error(int, char const*, char const*)
    17 report_error(int, char const*, char const*)
    15 __i686.get_pc_thunk.bx
    15 __i686.get_pc_thunk.bx
    15 lic_reinitialize_storage
    7 dyld_stub_pthread_mutex_lock
    7 dyld_stub_pthread_mutex_lock
    5 dyld_stub_pthread_cond_broadcast
    5 dyld_stub_pthread_cond_broadcast
    5 dyld_stub_pthread_mutex_unlock
    5 dyld_stub_pthread_mutex_unlock
    1 CFRunLoopGetCurrent
    1 CFRunLoopGetCurrent
    5 dyld_stub__ZN14QWaitCondition7wakeAllEv
    5 dyld_stub__ZN14QWaitCondition7wakeAllEv
    3 dyld_stub_CFRunLoopRun
    3 dyld_stub_CFRunLoopRun

    Total number in stack (recursive counted multiple, when >=5):
    17 uuid_unpack
    5 _pthread_start
    5 thread_start

    Sort by top of stack, same collapsed (when >= 5):
    select$DARWIN_EXTSN$NOCANCEL 4098
    mach_msg_trap 2049
    recvmsg$NOCANCEL$UNIX2003 2049
    semaphore_wait_signal_trap 2049
    __spin_lock 458
    __CFStringHash 172
    __CFSetFindBuckets1b 151
    CFRunLoopRunSpecific 107
    pthread_mutex_lock 95
    pthread_mutex_unlock 87
    pthread_cond_broadcast 86
    __CFRunLoopFindMode 82
    CFEqual 67
    CFHash 62
    CFSetGetValue 62
    CFRunLoopRun 56
    _CFHash 54
    __CFDictionaryFindBuckets1a 53
    QWaitCondition::wakeAll() 48
    _CFRunLoop0 48
    __CFRunLoopModeIsEmpty 47
    CFDictionaryGetValue 45
    report_error(int, char const*, char const*) 40
    CFRunLoopGetCurrent 26
    dyld_stub_OSSpinLockLock 22
    __i686.get_pc_thunk.bx 20
    spin_unlock 19
    dyld_stub__spin_unlock 15
    lic_reinitialize_storage 15
    spin_lock 15
    dyld_stub__spin_lock 14
    pthread_main_np 14
    __CFRunLoopModeEqual 10
    dyld_stub_OSSpinLockUnlock 10
    _CFRuntimeSetInstanceTypeID 7
    dyld_stub_pthread_mutex_lock 7
    dyld_stub_pthread_main_np 6
    __CFRunLoopModeHash 5
    dyld_stub__ZN14QWaitCondition7wakeAllEv 5
    dyld_stub_pthread_cond_broadcast 5
    dyld_stub_pthread_mutex_unlock 5
    Sample analysis of process 7573 written to file /dev/stdout
     
  10. Juankr

    Juankr Member

    Messages:
    22
    Any solution??
     
  11. ebatte

    ebatte Member

    Messages:
    20
    Possible Solution

    Suggested by another user in another thread:

    1. Uninstall Parallels Desktop 4.0
    2. Login as another user and install PD4 while logged in as that user.
    3. Log back in to your normal user account and run PD4

    I did this and no longer have excessive cpu usage by prl_vm_app or the Parallels Desktop process. I should note that in my case when I reinstalled I was logged in as root, but I don't think it matters. Also, I did not have to re-import or convert my virtual machines. I am using one that I already converted to 4.0 and it works great!! Super low cpu usage!!

    Good luck!

    I'm going to post this as a separate thread so others will find it easier.
     
  12. estrelnikov

    estrelnikov Parallels Team

    Messages:
    287
    Also, you can try this KB article: http://kb.parallels.com/en/5810, if it hangs during the VM uprgade try pressing Ctrl+Cmd+Option+R to interrupt the process, then follow the steps from KB article
     
  13. epirali

    epirali Member

    Messages:
    27
    I had the same issue and tried the solution, but get "the wizard could not find a a better match..."

    What do you suggest?
     
  14. John@Parallels

    John@Parallels Forum Maven

    Messages:
    6,333
    Are you using 2 CPU in VM?
     
  15. Birdman

    Birdman Member

    Messages:
    64
    Hi! John,

    Could we have some update from Parallels for this high CPU usage issue?

    Thanks!
     
  16. epirali

    epirali Member

    Messages:
    27
    Nope, just one.
     
  17. John@Parallels

    John@Parallels Forum Maven

    Messages:
    6,333
    Try ebatte solution, if problem is still over there,
    While running Virtual machine submit problem report and post here ID
     
  18. otoc

    otoc Member

    Messages:
    48
    Report#19526
    See Attached.

    Color Key for attachment:
    Green---VM Boot
    Blue-----Welcome Screen
    Teal-----XP Boot

    Hardware:
    Model Name: MacBook Pro
    Model Identifier: MacBookPro3,1
    Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
    Processor Speed: 2.2 GHz
    Number Of Processors: 1
    Total Number Of Cores: 2
    L2 Cache: 4 MB
    Memory: 2 GB
    Bus Speed: 800 MHz
    Boot ROM Version: MBP31.0070.B07
    SMC Version: 1.16f8

    PD4 Settings:
    1 CPU
    Chipset "0"
    Memory: Default 512MB/Pref:Automatic
    WinXP Virtual: Custom Size 2046-4092

    Observations:
    If VM needs then Host will supply--the CPU activity graphic is from the Host. The CPU activity source is described here.

    VM Boot is quick, but Welcome Page shows additional activity for some time. In PD3 there was a notice that Tools was loading and don't touch. No such notice in PD4. I assume and wait for activity to subside before selecting the User in the Welcome Screen to open the Windows Desktop. Windows startup apps load better.

    When CPU was set for 2, both CPUs were pegged @100% and Host/VM were non-responsive for mouse or screen changes.

    Sorry, no interest in another install to try the User experiment.

    I understand this issue may be different from the OP but the observations and report will hopefully be helpful.
     

    Attached Files:

  19. Birdman

    Birdman Member

    Messages:
    64
    Hi! John,

    Many of us have tried ebatte's solution still having problem!

    We would like to know IF THERE IS ANY PROGRESS FROM PARALLELS side!!!
     
  20. John@Parallels

    John@Parallels Forum Maven

    Messages:
    6,333
    Try ebatte solution, if problem is still over there,
    While running Virtual machine submit problem report and post here ID
     

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