Constant HDD usage

Discussions about using Linux guests in VirtualBox.
Kein
Posts: 32
Joined: 28. Jun 2009, 19:46
Primary OS: MS Windows Vista
VBox Version: OSE Debian
Guest OSses: Debian, Ubuntu

Constant HDD usage

Post by Kein »

Here is self-explaining pic:
Image
The whole time while VBox works it constantly uses HDD @ 2.3-2.5Mbs. Tested with Ubuntu and Debian guest OSes . The funniest thing is that iotop shows 0.00% usage while system idling, but Vbox still stress-uses HDD.

Does anyone know how to solve this problem? Or what causes it...
Perryg
Site Moderator
Posts: 34369
Joined: 6. Sep 2008, 22:55
Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: OSE self-compiled
Guest OSses: *NIX

Re: Constant HDD usage

Post by Perryg »

Please post the host memory and all guest settings.
Also is this a 32 or 64 bit system?
We will take a look and see if there is an issue.
Kein
Posts: 32
Joined: 28. Jun 2009, 19:46
Primary OS: MS Windows Vista
VBox Version: OSE Debian
Guest OSses: Debian, Ubuntu

Re: Constant HDD usage

Post by Kein »

Host specs:
OS: MS Windows Vista SP2 32bit
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2,66Ghz
RAM: Kingston DDR-800 KVR800D2N6/2G 2x2GB [4GB]
GFX: GeForce 260GTX

Guest settings:
Well... it's Debian 5 Lenny x86 fresh install (default, no custom install or expert install)

Yes, both, guest and host OSes are 32bit.
Perryg
Site Moderator
Posts: 34369
Joined: 6. Sep 2008, 22:55
Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: OSE self-compiled
Guest OSses: *NIX

Re: Constant HDD usage

Post by Perryg »

One thing I will mention that most people miss is to make sure that you host virus software is set to not check the virtualbox directory/files. With all of the stuff going on it will never catch up. I found this to be true back with VB version 1.x and doubt that anything has changed.
Kein
Posts: 32
Joined: 28. Jun 2009, 19:46
Primary OS: MS Windows Vista
VBox Version: OSE Debian
Guest OSses: Debian, Ubuntu

Re: Constant HDD usage

Post by Kein »

Long answer:
I'm living with system resource monitor loaded, I know every precess on my host machine and what it should and shouldn't to do.

Short answer:
Anti-virus/Protection software wasn't started at all. Only VBox + filemanager.
Kein
Posts: 32
Joined: 28. Jun 2009, 19:46
Primary OS: MS Windows Vista
VBox Version: OSE Debian
Guest OSses: Debian, Ubuntu

Re: Constant HDD usage

Post by Kein »

*live

Forgot to add: on the screen you can see that it is Vbox process who doing so intensive I/O. Not some AV-software or backgroud compressor :P
Perryg
Site Moderator
Posts: 34369
Joined: 6. Sep 2008, 22:55
Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: OSE self-compiled
Guest OSses: *NIX

Re: Constant HDD usage

Post by Perryg »

Well I don't know what to tell you. I have Vista business 32 bit as host and Ubuntu 8.04, 9.04 servers (LAMP) running and 9.04 client running in seamless mode 24/7. My (sysinrternals process monitor) shows that for the most part very low usage unless one of the guests is working. I/O reads are 0% to as much as 100% when it is doing its thing. I have noticed that when I do use the resource monitor that is in Vista it produces a large overhead, and skews the numbers (at least for me). CPU is steady around 1% to 6% which is understandable with the OSs I have running.

Install this from Microsoft. It is free and IMHO a lot better in the information that it provides.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysi ... 42062.aspx
Kein
Posts: 32
Joined: 28. Jun 2009, 19:46
Primary OS: MS Windows Vista
VBox Version: OSE Debian
Guest OSses: Debian, Ubuntu

Re: Constant HDD usage

Post by Kein »

It is sysinrternals process monitor >_>
I'm using it few years and it always shows correct data, even on my Vista (I migrated from XP to it). There is no reason why it should show incorrect data for VirtualBox.exe.
Perryg
Site Moderator
Posts: 34369
Joined: 6. Sep 2008, 22:55
Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: OSE self-compiled
Guest OSses: *NIX

Re: Constant HDD usage

Post by Perryg »

If that is what you are using then it should show correctly.

To see if you can determine the problem you can (if you are using them) shut off USB, and 3D Effects.

I do not use them because they did cause me problems. (I am not saying that this is true for everyone, just in my case)!
baf
Volunteer
Posts: 829
Joined: 27. Sep 2008, 06:18
Primary OS: Mac OS X Leopard
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: linux,xp,win7
Location: Luleå or Skellefteå, Sweden

Re: Constant HDD usage

Post by baf »

Probably unneeded but make sure that your guest isn't cracked. Small odds I know but....
Some say: "You learn as long as you live".
My way: "You live as long as you learn".
Kein
Posts: 32
Joined: 28. Jun 2009, 19:46
Primary OS: MS Windows Vista
VBox Version: OSE Debian
Guest OSses: Debian, Ubuntu

Re: Constant HDD usage

Post by Kein »

To see if you can determine the problem you can (if you are using them) shut off USB, and 3
That was the first thing I did.
Probably unneeded but make sure that your guest isn't cracked. Small odds I know but....
Umm... well, it's an original Ubuntu/Debian ISOs, but the most important thing - wha the reason to crack them? I'm pretty curious...
baf
Volunteer
Posts: 829
Joined: 27. Sep 2008, 06:18
Primary OS: Mac OS X Leopard
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: linux,xp,win7
Location: Luleå or Skellefteå, Sweden

Re: Constant HDD usage

Post by baf »

No reason really but some people want to have machines to: send spam, attack others, hide their trails when doing something bad, upload porn and share via somebody else ..... So did it come straight from original repositories? Was it like this directly you set it up? And as I said probably wrong but can't hurt to check a little bit. How does network traffic look on your host? If that's normal this is most likely wrong.
Some say: "You learn as long as you live".
My way: "You live as long as you learn".
Kein
Posts: 32
Joined: 28. Jun 2009, 19:46
Primary OS: MS Windows Vista
VBox Version: OSE Debian
Guest OSses: Debian, Ubuntu

Re: Constant HDD usage

Post by Kein »

FileMon logs here: http://www.speedyshare.com/954593304.html

baf
No reason really but some people want to have machines to: send spam, attack others, hide their trails when doing something bad, upload porn and share via somebody else ..... So did it come straight from original repositories? Was it like this directly you set it up? And as I said probably wrong but can't hurt to check a little bit. How does network traffic look on your host? If that's normal this is most likely wrong.
4d885020babadbb2ad2206156fb590e6 *debian-500-i386-DVD-1.iso
24ea1163ea6c9f5dae77de8c49ee7c03 *ubuntu-8.10-desktop-i386.iso
fixedwheel
Volunteer
Posts: 1699
Joined: 13. Sep 2008, 02:18

Re: Constant HDD usage

Post by fixedwheel »

Kein wrote:It is sysinrternals process monitor >_>
I'm using it few years and it always shows correct data, even on my Vista (I migrated from XP to it). There is no reason why it should show incorrect data for VirtualBox.exe.
sysinternals on the vista host cant see whats inside the linux guest - do a ps -ef to see whats going on
Kein
Posts: 32
Joined: 28. Jun 2009, 19:46
Primary OS: MS Windows Vista
VBox Version: OSE Debian
Guest OSses: Debian, Ubuntu

Re: Constant HDD usage

Post by Kein »

Care to read my first post carefully? Sad that I can't edit it and bold some things >_>
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