Question or two about VMs...

[Jeff]

I've used TinyXP and a Win2k install that I made up and I can not get my VMs to use less than 100Mb as seen in the hosts Task Manager(I'm referring to the "host" as the computer that is running the VMware software).

Seems like a stripped down XP is basically the same as Win2k footprint wise. Setting 64Mb to each VM using either os will consume right around 100Mb with Java and DIMES installed.

Is this normal? I'm thinking it is because of all the talk about "55Mb" Win installs. To me that would mean 55Mb for the os to run and then another ~45Mb for DIMES to run.

I also think VMware adds an extra ~30-35Mb for itself to run each VM.

I did try DSL and for some reason I can't get DIMES to stay communicating once I start cloning VMs. I've changed the NIC address and did a fresh install of DIMES and it seems that once I try to get multiple DIMES running... crasholio. I know nothing about Linux but it doesn't seem too difficult in the sense that you can Google just about any aspect of it to figure out what you want. ;)


Don't really know what the point is to this post... if you want to share some helpful information, great & thanks. ;)

:toast:

[[XC]thewildblue]

You can set the amount of memory the VMware program itself uses out of your physical ram in the host machine.

From main Vm startup (no VMs running) click edit - preferences, choose memory and then u can specify what is used. Also whether to swap or not etc.

[Jeff]

Thanks for that bit of information, what would you recommend?

[[XC]thewildblue]

depends on the rig and what its used for, I usually leave about 128mb for the host OS if it just Dimes. Other than that whatever seems to feel nice.

[InSanCen]

Judging by your stat's, I'd say you sorted those VM's out!

[Jeff]

Just wait 'til that 4Gb of memory comes... ;) There are are three DC Opterons just waiting to be pushed.

Nice thing is that even with 10VMs running, they are only using 6%-8% of the CPU power(on one CPU) so running my other DC project isn't a problem.

What happened to a couple of the other big hitters here? Seems like there were a few people that shot up the ranks and now are settling back down? ISP problems maybe?

I didn't come here for XS.org to sit at #8 for the rest 2005... :stick: Let's get a move on!

BTW, who broke the DIMES server? Seems like it's partially down today... :nono: :slapass:
;)

[[XC]thewildblue]

Welcome back Jeff nice to have you onboard.

Seems Haltech is missing in action at the moment but Im sure we will see him again. I think that highland3r is sorting his rigs.

My second place is still safe for a while as I will slowly be upping production as I add a couple more VMs to an old machine I setup last week.

[Jeff]

Yeah, I wondered what happened to him. Hopefully he wasn't a flash in the pan... :stick: ;) (good hearted :stick: there btw) :D

[[XC]thewildblue]

Busy time of year for everyone, hopefulyl he will have some surprises for us as wasnt far from cracking 200k a day from what I remember.

[Jeff]

:woot: Looks like UPS is a bit early with this package and it's on their delivery truck for *today*. Overnight shipping for the price of 3-day... :woot:

[[XC]thewildblue]

Keep us updated I want to know how many VMs you can run with 4gb. The XP install should be available soon as well.... Are you going to run 64bit windows to handle the memory better ?

[Jeff]

Not going with the 4Gb in one rig, going to have 2Gb in 3 different rigs. And each of those will be using ~200Kb for another DC project so I'll have to leave at least that free.

The only thing that could hold me back is ISP troubles... which seem to be rare but I have luck like that sometimes... :lol:

[edit]
Do you think XP-64 would really make a difference?

[[XC] moddolicous]

Keep us updated I want to know how many VMs you can run with 4gb. The XP install should be available soon as well.... Are you going to run 64bit windows to handle the memory better ?
I'd give linux a shot over 64bit windows, but thats me. Linux is usually more efficient than windows.

[[XC]thewildblue]

From what I understand the 64bit OSes seem to handle memory better and give greater performance.

[Jeff]

I tried to get the DSL VMs going but after the first VM I ran into troubles. Seemed like as soon as I cloned the working VM neither VM would work any longer. I tried changing NIC addresses and re-installing DIMES but neither of those did anything. I also tried 4 clones and none of those would work.

I could have been having a brain-fart so I'll try again soon... but if that rings a bell with someone I'd appreciate a pointer in the right direction.

[[XC] moddolicous]

Jeff, u wouldnt by any chance have any dos install disks lying around would you? Rod tried to help, but I got a boot disk. I want to give zipslack a try (should only use ~150-200mb hard drive space & around 40mb ram use) but I cant find dos disk 2 of 6.0. Anyone that does please pm me.

[Jeff]

Figured out my DSL goof. I was trying to use the same files for each of my VMs. Once I started copying directories then things started to work. I'm in the process of adding another one but hopefully that did the trick.

[Jeff]

Seems like my small WinXP & Win2k installs use right around 102kb while running DIMES. This DSL install is using right around 85kb. Looks like an extra VM or two per machine using DSL.

[Haltech]

Keep us updated I want to know how many VMs you can run with 4gb. The XP install should be available soon as well.... Are you going to run 64bit windows to handle the memory better ?

64 bit windows :banana::banana::banana::banana: all over itself with 4 gigs. Ive been pulling my hair out for almost two weeks over this. I believe i have about 51 hrs into this already.

[InSanCen]

I've not seen too many people have much success with 64bit Edition. Most went to some form of Linux in the end, and ran WINE for the windows apps they needed (Though forget that if you're gaming on the rig).

Hope you get it working mate.

[[XC]thewildblue]

Has anyone tried 64bit 2003 ? Or even enterprise edition as doesnt that use the memory better ?

[Haltech]

Has anyone tried 64bit 2003 ? Or even enterprise edition as doesnt that use the memory better ?

Ive tried everything. Supposedly 2003 Server, whichever edition, as long as its SP1, should be able to handle 3 gigs of ram, didnt work for me. Ive tried everything from 32bit to 64 Bit.. You name the windows version. Ive screwed around with it so much, i honestly, never wanted to reboot the 2 boxes again.

I did the /3GB switch is a version of XP Pro and im up and running finally.

[Jeff]

Anybody else experience a memory leak with the DSL/Dimes install? All ten of my clients on one box and all 5 on another box stalled out completely. Couldn't even move the mouse and had to reboot them. I was running with 60Mb of memory and it ran fine for a day or so fine. I just increase that to 64Mb and I'll keep an eye on it.

Is there maybe a utility running within DSL that's consuming resources? Is there an auto defrag or something similar that runs? That's the only thing I can think of besides a leak.

[Haltech]

Memory leak? That sucks. I didnt use the DSL install yet. Its easier to run the windows versions and with less memory to boot.Bloody did mention he had to goto 96 megs per client to get it stable btw. If youre going to go through all that, you might as well just install the Win2k Pro clients

[[XC] moddolicous]

If you read some other posts, some people are using ~ 64 or even lower! If the thing on the side says how much ram is being used, then mine says its using ~30mb.

[Haltech]

If you read some other posts, some people are using ~ 64 or even lower! If the thing on the side says how much ram is being used, then mine says its using ~30mb.

Ive got my win2k clients running on 32 megs. All i was concerned with was do the DSL clients produce more, the same or less points per hour than the Windows brothern?

[[XC] moddolicous]

Well, I set it up I tihnk around 3:00pm here today and its @ 726numbers and measurements.