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Painfully slow...why?

Posted: 21. May 2019, 13:05
by Sy
I have the following:

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac17,1
Processor Name: Intel Core i7
Processor Speed: 4 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 4
L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 8 MB
Hyper-Threading Technology: Enabled
Memory: 16 GB
Boot ROM Version: 166.0.0.0.0
SMC Version (system): 2.34f2
Serial Number (system): xxxx
Hardware UUID: E7AFECF5-9DFC-5838-B7DC-D27F58130FEC

This is a very fast system, the VirtualBox I have installed:

Version 6.0.8 r130520 (Qt5.6.3)

The virtual machine is Ubuntu 14.04:

Type: Linux, Version Ubuntu (32-bit)
Shared Clipboard: Host to Guest
Drag'n'Drop: Bidirectional
Disk Encryption: Not enabled
Base Memory: 3072 MB
Boot Order: Optical, Hard Disk
Chipset: PIIX3
Pointing Device: PS/2 Mouse
Extended Features: Enable I/O APIC, Hardware Clock in UTC Time
Processor(s): 4
Execution Cap: 100%
Extended Features: Enable PAE/NX
Paravirtualization Interface: Default
Hardware Virtualization: Enable Nested Paging
Video Memory: 128 MB
Monitor Count: 1
Scale Factor: 275%
Graphics Controller: VBoxSVGA
Acceleration: Enable 3D Acceleration
Controller:IDE, VBoxGuestAdditions.iso
Controller: SATA, Ubuntu 14.04 ACS dev.vdi
Name: IDE, Type PIIX4, Use Host I/O Cache
Enable Audio, Host Audio Driver: Core Audio
Audio Controller: ICH AC97, Extended Features: Enable Audio Output
Enable Network Adapter, Bridged Adapter, en1: Wi-Fi (AirPort)

The Virtual machine is running painfully slow, its not very useable at all, mouse clicks and key strokes are not actioned for several sections after they occurred.

Why ? Is there anything that can be done to improve performance?

Re: Painfully slow...why?

Posted: 21. May 2019, 13:37
by socratis
We need to see a complete VBox.log, from a complete VM run, where the problem occurs:
  • Start the VM from cold-boot (not from a paused or saved state) / Observe problem / Shutdown the VM (force close it if you have to).
  • With the VM completely shut down (not paused or saved), right-click on the VM in the VirtualBox Manager and select "Show Log".
  • Save only the first "VBox.log", ZIP it and attach it to your response. See the "Upload attachment" tab below the reply form.
Image

Re: Painfully slow...why?

Posted: 21. May 2019, 13:41
by Sy
Thank you, please see attached zipped log file.

Re: Painfully slow...why?

Posted: 21. May 2019, 19:51
by socratis
00:00:01.284389 NumCPUs <integer> = 0x0000000000000004 (4)
00:00:01.453546 CPUM: Physical host cores: 4
You have assigned all your CPUs to the VM. The host is going to run low on resources, since VirtualBox cares about physical processors (cores), not logical ones (threads). Take it down to 2.
00:00:01.284704 VMSVGA3dEnabled  <integer> = 0x0000000000000001 (1)
00:00:01.284704 VMSVGAEnabled    <integer> = 0x0000000000000001 (1)
You have manually changed the vGPU from the template proposed VMSVGA to the suggested for Windows guests, VBoxSVGA. Why? If anything, you should change it to VBoxVGA, the older trusted one. Either VBoxVGA or VMSVGA for Linux guests, experiment with both options. But not VBoxSVGA.
00:00:07.726722 AIOMgr: Host limits number of active IO requests to 16. Expect a performance impact.
Go to the VM Settings » Storage » select the SATA controller » Use Host I/O Cache: enable that.


PS. Keep in mind that psychological pressure, the sort that you try to apply when you PM people, actually makes them less keen to look at an issue. Please don't do it again. I'm not your personal support, you're not the only user that needs help. I'm a mod, I have to see every post, I don't need to be told when there's an update.

Re: Painfully slow...why?

Posted: 21. May 2019, 19:56
by Sy
Thank you, trying all those options now.

Re: Painfully slow...why?

Posted: 21. May 2019, 20:04
by Sy
Much better, still slow, but much better.

Re: Painfully slow...why?

Posted: 23. May 2019, 03:11
by socratis
@Sy,
I'm going to lock this thread because with such a generic title, it's going to attract anyone and anything with performance issues. Already has. Please choose the title of your thread more wisely next time.

If you want to add something to the thread, send me a PM.