Weird multiple VM memory allocation constraints

[Mr SA]

Build 1940. Mac Pro, 10GB. A decent amount of memory allocated through Parallels -> Preferences.

The first opened (first to open, not even to run) VM window can be allocated up to 1400MB and no more.

The second opened (not run) VM window can be allocated up to 1000MB and no more.

The third opened (not run) VM window can be allocated up to 1000MB and no more.

If you open a fourth VM window (not running), you get problems with windows throughout your OS X environment, however you can allocate up to 1400MB memory to this machine and close down one of your earlier machines and it will run happily.

These constraints apply regardless of the sequence in which you start the VMs running, so it is entirely down to a Parallels bug.

Either fix it or document it, please.

 

[joem]

Either fix it or document it, please.

Now there's a refreshingly reasonable request. You made my day.

 

[Victor]

At least he said "please"

 

[Mr SA]

At least he said "please"

As an Ops manager for a software company, I have had responsibility for a support desk. I don't expect every bug to be fixed immediately. In this instance the program behaviour is consistent, if opaque.

Far easier to document the behaviour as it stands to avoid other users being led up the garden path. I hope i asked nicely enough. It is quite simple:

TECHNOTE ON MEMORY ALLOCATION TO VIRTUAL MACHINES (tested on builds 1922 and 1940, Mac Pro, OS X 10.4.8, 2GB/8GB/10GB RAM)

If you find you are getting the following error message when running a Parallels virtual machine, please adjust your Parallels virtual machine memory settings according to the information in this technote:

Parallels can only reliably have three VM windows open at any given time, regardless of system resources and regardless of whether they are running or not.

The sequence in which the windows are opened (not run) is important as regards memory allocation:
- the first opened window can be allocated up to 1400MB memory and no more
- the second and third opened window can be allocated up to 1000MB memory and no more

If you do not know in which order you are going to be opening Parallels virtual machine windows, we recommend you use a maximum memory allocation of 1000MB to all virtual machines to avoid problems.

 

[jackgarvey]

Same problem here...

I have tried removing programs and files to free up space, increasing the virtual drive space, I have tried updating to the newest version of parallels, I am not running multiple OS's and I have plenty of RAM available (1 GIG) and yet I keep getting these errors even withthe latest build...