Hello.
My problem (briefly).
A 19 simultaneously runned virtual machines becomes not operable after 20-30 minutes of working on my server.
My Server's configuration.
OS: Microsoft Windows 2003 Standard x64 Edition Server with Service Pack 2
RAM: 32Gb
CPU: Intel Xeon CPU E5430 @ 2,66Ghz (8 cores)
HDD: 6 HDD (1 for OS and 5 for virtual machines)
Software: VMWare Server 1.0.4
My Virtual Machines hardware.
I have maximum 4 machines on one HDD.
A hardware configuration of all my Virtual machines is:
Memory: 512Mb (1024Mb for Windows Server 2008)
Hard Disk: SCSI, 16 Gb.
CD-ROM: IDE, using image.
Processor: 1
Ethernet: Custom, VMnet.
My Virtual Machines software.
I have 11 Virtual Machines with Windows 2003 Server and 8 Machines with Windows Server 2008 installed.
VMWare Tools are installed.
A proper version of Virtual Machine was selected for each of them during the creation.
All machines are Domain Controllers, except 3 of them, and are combined as a single forest.
All DCs are just promoted to the AD and no additional objects were created.
My problem (detailed).
I'm starting my virtual machines, and trying to operate with them.
Running different administrative tools on one of the DCs (starting the replication of the Active Directory, browsing for AD objects), doing some diagnostic actions (DCDIAG, NETDIAG and something like that).
After 20-30 minutes of my switching between virtual machines they are becomes not operable: the mouse cursor is disappeared, the keyboard strokes are gives no result.
When 3-4 machines are switched off, the others are available and I can operate with them.
My Expectation.
The latest version of Administrative Guide for Virtual Server 1.0 (modified at 07.07.2006) says, that it is recommended 4 virtual machines per processor and maximum 64 machines on one server.
In my case it should be at least 4*8=32 simultaneously runned virtual machines, but really i have only 16.
Can you please, provide me a solution of this problem?
How can I increase the number of operable machines on my server?
Do you have an updated Guides?