High cpu usage on linux

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Linux hosts.
TerryE
Volunteer
Posts: 3572
Joined: 28. May 2008, 08:40
Primary OS: Ubuntu other
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Ubuntu 10.04 & 11.10, both Svr&Wstn, Debian, CentOS
Contact:

Post by TerryE »

I agree with you except on two points
In your virtualbox, choose IO APIC, otherwise your windows will not be happy when booting as I assume it has previously started with IO APIC
  • Your solution in this topic addresses this issue by having two system boot profiles one with and one without APIC.
  • I am uncomfortable adding normal users to the group disk. You are now able with a little bit of finger trouble such as ls -l > /dev/sda to trash your system. I think that the idea of having a service account (which is in the disk group) to run VBox in, configuring sudoers, and some wrapper scripts which set VBOX_USER_HOME and start VBox in this account is far safer. I need to write these, but I haven't set this up yet as I rarely use raw partitions. At the moment when I do, I think on balance it is safer to do so using the same trick and sudoing into root to do the VBox command, and sudo chowning the files back to my ownership on exit.
Read the Forum Posting Guide
Google your Q site:VirtualBox.org or search for the answer before posting.
gcampton
Posts: 15
Joined: 6. Aug 2008, 10:38

Post by gcampton »

I'm sure if this applies or not fromt he troubleshooting section of the guide:

11.3. Linux guests
11.3.1. Linux guests may cause a high CPU load
Some Linux guests may cause a high CPU load even if the guest system appears to be idle. This can be caused by a high timer frequency of the guest kernel. Some Linux distributions, for example Fedora, ship a Linux kernel configured for a timer frequency of 1000Hz. We recommend to recompile the guest kernel and to select a timer frequency of 100Hz.
gcampton
Posts: 15
Joined: 6. Aug 2008, 10:38

Post by gcampton »

ok more problems....

i tried to install additions on the gnome environment...really wish i knew fedora commands : /

This is going by the book, unless theres another book i'm not aware of.

Code: Select all

$ su --login
$
$ cd ../media/VBOXADDITIONS_1.6.4_33808
$ sh. VBoxLinuxAdditions.run

 -bash:  sh: command not found
philippe44
Posts: 45
Joined: 31. Jul 2008, 20:56
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Kubuntu, misc Linux, XP

Post by philippe44 »

You are right on both items - I was adding the raw disk management topic because it is true that my answer is irrelevant in case of virtual disks as, of course, Windows will detect and use a a single CPU HAL and _this_ version of high CPU problem will not happen. DO you think we should make a more complete well-described guide ?
Sasquatch
Volunteer
Posts: 17798
Joined: 17. Mar 2008, 13:41
Primary OS: Debian other
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows XP, Windows 7, Linux
Location: /dev/random

Post by Sasquatch »

A guide is always a good idea, as this issue is bound to happen more often.
Read the Forum Posting Guide before opening a topic.
VirtualBox FAQ: Check this before asking questions.
Online User Manual: A must read if you want to know what we're talking about.
Howto: Install Linux Guest Additions
Howto: Use Shared Folders on Linux Guest
See the Tutorials and FAQ section at the top of the Forum for more guides.
Try searching the forums first with Google and add the site filter for this forum.
E.g. install guest additions site:forums.virtualbox.org

Retired from this Forum since OSSO introduction.
TerryE
Volunteer
Posts: 3572
Joined: 28. May 2008, 08:40
Primary OS: Ubuntu other
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Ubuntu 10.04 & 11.10, both Svr&Wstn, Debian, CentOS
Contact:

Post by TerryE »

gcampton wrote:This is going by the book, unless there's another book i'm not aware of...

Code: Select all

$ sh. VBoxLinuxAdditions.run
No its not. You've got a typo. Use one of the following
sh VBoxLinuxAdditions.run
sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions.run
The "./" is only needed if you omit the sh.
Read the Forum Posting Guide
Google your Q site:VirtualBox.org or search for the answer before posting.
Post Reply