You may experience decreased performance when you run Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 as a guest operating system under Virtual Server 2005 (900076)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Virtual Server 2005

SYMPTOMS

When you upgrade a guest operating system that is running under Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 to Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1), you may experience decreased performance in comparison with the original-release version of Windows Server 2003.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because the Virtual Machine Additions program that is included with Virtual Server 2005 does not have the performance optimizations that are required for Windows Server 2003 with SP1. Virtual Server 2005 was released many months before the release of Windows Server 2003 SP1.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, choose one the following options if the following conditions are true:
  • You have Windows Server 2003 SP1 installed.
  • You have performance or product-support problems.

Option 1: Upgrade to Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 Release 2 (R2)

Virtual Server 2005 R2 is now available. For more information, visit the following Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/virtualserver



After you install Virtual Server 2005 R2 is installed, follow the steps in Option 2 for updating the Virtual Machine Additions

Option 2: Upgrade the Virtual Machine Additions that are installed in the guest operating system

Updated additions are available from the Microsoft Download Center. After you apply the update to your Virtual Server 2005 installation, upgrade the Virtual Machine Additions that are installed in the guest operating system:
  1. Open the Administration Web site. For information about how to do this, see the "Notes" section.
  2. Under Status, point to the virtual machine name, and then click Remote Control.
  3. In the guest operating system, open Add/Remove Programs, select the Virtual Machine Additions, and then click Uninstall.
  4. When you re prompted to restart, select Restart.
  5. On the host computer, open the Administration Web site.
  6. In the navigation pane, under Virtual Machines, point to Configure, and then click the appropriate virtual machine.
  7. In Status, point to the virtual machine name, and then click Turn On.
  8. AFter the virtual machine has started, point to the virtual machine name, and then click Remote Control.
  9. Log on to the virtual machine as an administrator or member of the Administrators group.
  10. After the guest operating system has loaded, press the host key to release the mouse pointer.
  11. In the lower-left corner, under Navigation, click Configure virtual_machine_name.
  12. In Configuration, click Virtual Machine Additions, click Install Virtual Machine Additions, and then click OK.
  13. Under Status, point to the virtual machine name, and then click Remote Control.
  14. Click in the Remote Control window to return to the guest operating system. The Virtual Machine Additions installation Wizard will start. Continue through the wizard.
  15. After the wizard is complete, you will be prompted to restart the virtual machine to complete the installation.

Notes

  • To perform this procedure, you must have the appropriate permissions. If you do not have the appropriate permissions, you will receive an error message or you will not be able to view certain menu items and options that are described in this procedure. To change your permissions, contact your Virtual Server administrator. For more information about how to help secure Virtual Server, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

    http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/virtualserver/2005/proddocs/vs_deploy_secure_vs.mspx

  • Information about how to open the Administration Web site, see the "Open the Administration Web site" topic in Related Topics.
  • If you do not want to use the Host time synchronization option, you can disable it when the virtual machine is turned off. You can do this before or after you install Virtual Machine Additions.
  • If your guest operating system is configured as a domain controller or your guest operating system and host operating system are members of different domains or are operating in different time zones, you should disable Host time synchronization.
  • You can use the HOST KEY+DELETE shortcut to send CTRL+ALT+DELETE to the guest operating system:
    1. In the navigation pane, under Virtual Machines, point to Configure, and then click the appropriate virtual machine.
    2. In Status, point to the virtual machine name, and then click Turn On.
    3. After the virtual machine has started, point to the virtual machine name, and then click Remote Control.
    4. Log on to the virtual machine as an administrator or member of the Administrators group.
    5. After the guest operating system has loaded, press the host key to release the mouse pointer.
    6. In the lower-left corner under Navigation, click Configure virtual_machine_name.
    7. In Configuration, click Virtual Machine Additions, click Install Virtual Machine Additions, and then click OK.
    8. Under Status, point to the virtual machine name, and then click Remote Control.
    9. Click in the Remote Control window to return to the guest operating system. The Virtual Machine Additions installation wizard will start. Continue through the wizard.
    10. After the wizard is complete, you will be prompted to restart the virtual machine to complete the installation.

Option 3: Revert to Windows Server 2003

If the first two options are not appropriate for your situation, you can revert the guest operating system to Windows Server 2003.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about the Virtual Server 2005 SP1 Beta Program, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/evaluation/sp1beta.mspx

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:4/7/2006
Keywords:kbQFE KBHotfixServer kbservicepack kbPerformance kbtshoot kbprb KB900076 kbAudITPRO
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