Host: Windows 10 Pro 64 bit (version 1607 build 14393.693), Intel i7 (8 core), 16Gb Memory
Guest VM: Linux 7.1 (running Oracle 12c)
VirtualBox: 5.1.14 with Oracle_VM_Guest_additions 5.1.14
Problem
After upgrading from 5.1.10 to 5.1.14, all linux VMs lockup when started (3 different vms with slightly different states of oracle database). Starting a VM from the virtualbox manager ususally takes less than 1 minute. Post upgrade, startup of vm guest takes > 10 mins and eventually locks up. Linux O/S boots (Linux server boot messages appear in guest window) but boot is very slow, guest system eventually locks up and displays error message on guest vm window:-
"Oh No Something has gone wrong
A problem has occurred and the system cant recover
Please log out and try again "
Unable to log out, vm completely frozen and have to user VirtualBox Manager to manually powerdown.
Guest storage set up on Samsung SSD 500gb drive, set to run with 4 cores (out of
, 8192mb mempry, 128mb video memory. 2d & 3D turned off. Oracle Guest Additions set up. At the point of lockup, windows Task Manager (on the host) shows 50% cpu usage for the virtualbox manager process, total cpu usage < 75% so not maxed out on cpu. Memory for VM on Task Manager shows 115mb, total memory in use < 25%. However disk i/o is very low, 0.1 MB/s - which is low (lock up at disk i/o level?).
I have checked ssd drive (used Samsung Magician) - no problems found. Drivers are up to date.
I have run Dell hardware diagnostics to check memory/bus/cpu etc - no problems.
There are no errors in the Windows event logs.
Virus scanning is turned off on the drive/directory that holds vms (Norton 360)
The workstation has been automatically upgraded over time with Windows 10, Chrome/Firefox etc, but no other changes to the host environment.
There are no other issues with other software on the laptop. The virtualbox environment and the Linux VMs has been running successfully for nearly two years, with periodic upgrades of Virtualbox.
Attempted fixes.
1. Reverted to 5.0.30 by reinstalling (reset guest additions to 5.0.30 in Manager Preferences). Same problem on all guest vms.
2. Reset guest vm to use 1 cpu and then through to 5 cpus. Same problem.
3. Deinstalled VirtualBox completely (deleted .Virtualbox directory) and installed 5.0.30 from scratch. Copied VM machines from backup from earlier 5.0.30 installation timeframe (guest vm working without problem in this backup timeframe). Same problem.
4. Deinstalled VirtualBox completely (deleted .Virtualbox directory) and installed 5.1.14 from scratch. Rebooted PC and stopped all non essential processes (outlook, business skype, backup, etc). Changed default storage location to non ssd drive, standard sata drive. Imported Oracle Developer Day Appliance to a non SSD drive. Started and ran with no problems.
5. Copied backup of existing Linux guest VM to non ssd drive and added VM in VirtualBox Manager. Unchecked SSD option for disks 1 & 2 under Settings - Storage. Copy of VM "backup" started OK (upgraded guest extensions in Linux guest once started). Task Manager now showing lower cpu usage (30% max when using Oracle development tools in guest) and disk i/o is much higher (15 - 20 MB/s during startup, 5 - 8MB when using Oracle development tools in guest).
6. Re enabled /started Outlook etc. No problems
7. Cloned working copy of VM from step 5 above to SSD drive. Checked (set to on) SSD option for disks 1 & 2 under Settings - Storage. Problem now re occurs.
This seems to suggests that there is a problem of some sort between guest linux vm and i/o on the ssd. There are no problems an a Windows level with ssd drive, large 80gb files can be copied and written to/from ssd drive with no problems.
The logs files are attached (slightly renamed so I can track which vm log files came from). I am not a systems guy (expertise is in Oracle), so not sure how to interpret log files to see if any obvious issue.
Input and help very gratefully received.
Thanks
Paul