Questions and Answers :
Windows :
Is this normal?
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Author | Message |
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Send message Joined: 7 Feb 19 Posts: 5 Credit: 411,044 RAC: 0 |
I've got a server dedicated to BOINC, it's got several projects configured but LHC is the only one giving work at the moment. I see one job running using 8 cores (of 24). When I look in task manger my CPU usage is 0%. It's showing 10GB of ram used, but looking at the list of what's using ram the largest item is 400Mb and the 2nd largest is 62mb. All in I'd say 1gb of ram is accounted for in the list of applications. I also noticed when the job finished the used ram% plummets, even though the list of applications looks exactly the same. Most of the jobs this machine does validate successfully so I feel like the work is getting done. Is this just an artifact of virtual box? |
Send message Joined: 28 Sep 04 Posts: 703 Credit: 46,558,538 RAC: 39,274 |
Yes. Windows task manager is unable to show used RAM for VirtualBox tasks. But it can show the total used memory. To view the tasks used memory, you have to view it from inside the VirtualBox terminals (TOP window Alt+F3). For this you need to install VirtualBox Extension Pack (the same version as your VirtualBox). See more information from Yeti's Atlas checklist here: https://lhcathome.cern.ch/lhcathome/forum_thread.php?id=4161#29359 |
Send message Joined: 2 May 07 Posts: 2175 Credit: 172,166,592 RAC: 171,172 |
The time difference is atm very short to finish waiting Atlas-Tasks (Two or three days). When the result is needed, the Agile Boincers are Computer from Cern-IT and they success this tasks and your are canceled. This is better, before they running a second or third time. |
Send message Joined: 7 Feb 19 Posts: 5 Credit: 411,044 RAC: 0 |
Thank you for the feed back. Does the visibility issue apply to processor usage as well? Is there something that prevents BOINC from running two jobs at the same time? It's got enough cores to run two at once, but only ever runs 1. |
Send message Joined: 2 May 07 Posts: 2175 Credit: 172,166,592 RAC: 171,172 |
You have to work through Yeti's Checklist in the Atlas-Folder, if you want and to use a app_config.xml. In this folder are a lot of news to do it the right way. |
Send message Joined: 28 Sep 04 Posts: 703 Credit: 46,558,538 RAC: 39,274 |
The limiting factor usually is the amount of memory available to Boinc. An Atlas task using 8 cores needs 10200 MB of memory (3000 + ncores * 900 MB). |
Send message Joined: 15 Jun 08 Posts: 2473 Credit: 245,491,256 RAC: 167,526 |
Harri Liljeroos wrote: To view the tasks used memory, you have to view it from inside the VirtualBox terminals (TOP window Alt+F3). Right. This would be the most accurate method. Harri Liljeroos wrote: For this you need to install VirtualBox Extension Pack ... Not necessarily. Before you try the method below make yourself familiar with the "host key" explained here: https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch01.html#keyb_mouse_normal Open the VirtualBox Manager, select the VM you want to look into and click on the "show" icon. When you close the view window ensure to keep the VM running in the background. |
Send message Joined: 14 Jan 10 Posts: 1342 Credit: 9,061,756 RAC: 10,005 |
When you close the view window ensure to keep the VM running in the background..... or use in the showed VM-console from the menu 'Machine' the option Detach GUI |
Send message Joined: 7 Feb 19 Posts: 5 Credit: 411,044 RAC: 0 |
The limiting factor usually is the amount of memory available to Boinc. An Atlas task using 8 cores needs 10200 MB of memory (3000 + ncores * 900 MB). That'll do it, the server in question only has 16GB (I've got another 16 coming in the mail). I'm not worried about seeing the actual ram usage, the behavior was just odd and was interested in an explanation. I don't think any one addressed my follow up question, does this visibility limitation apply to CPU usage as well? |
Send message Joined: 2 May 07 Posts: 2175 Credit: 172,166,592 RAC: 171,172 |
I don't think any one addressed my follow up question, does this visibility limitation apply to CPU usage as well? When you let one Atlas-Task running with 10GByte RAM, it's ok. Otherwhise, you have to find a way with app_config.xml, to optimize how many Atlas-Task with how many RAM and Cores. |
Send message Joined: 7 Feb 19 Posts: 5 Credit: 411,044 RAC: 0 |
When you let one Atlas-Task running with 10GByte RAM, it's ok. This does not clearly answer my question. Does the windows task manage under report CPU usage due to the VM, similar to the RAM usage under report? |
Send message Joined: 27 Sep 08 Posts: 817 Credit: 679,845,013 RAC: 218,208 |
The reporting of data in windows is due to how virtualization works in windows. For the CPU, its actually one of the VBoxHeadless.exe processes. For the ram you can see it in a tool from Sysinternals called VMMap, its sort of hidden since the virtualbox driver allocates so its allocated to the driver not to the process like it would be normally. |
Send message Joined: 7 Feb 19 Posts: 5 Credit: 411,044 RAC: 0 |
Thanks for the info. |
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