gpsvc on Server 2008 eating Physical Memory

ShrapNel · 09-07-2009, 08:22 AM

Hi All...

I have a server running Server 2008 Standard Edition, and I am using Group Policies to manage Terminal Services users, and it has been working great, untill recently. The server has been running for about 2 months, and then in the last 3 weeks the gpsvc service is using as much memory as what it can lay its hands on. I have reduced the frequency at which my Group Policies update, to see if this solves the problem, but it did not seem to.

My server 2008 installation is up to date with windows updates, and has the latest service pack. I have run NOD32 and that came up clean.

Right now my physical memory usage is on 96%, and users are complaining. I could add another 2GB of RAM to the server, but I am doubting whether this is the problem as it ran fine for 2 months prior.

If I reboot the server, it gets back down to normal, and then it will take 2 or 3 days to get right back up to such high memory usage again, it is most frustrating to not be able to find this problem.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks so much!!

Soteriologist · 10-26-2009, 04:07 PM

You ever get this one figured out? I seem to be having a similar issue. -_-

I'm running Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise 64bit and have 4 gigs of ram in the machine currently. I'm running into this issue on both of my domain controllers (they're built to the same specs and with the same hardware). I doubt it's a hardware problem for both of them to experience it at the same time and am more thinking that it's Windows related. I can log into the machine if I boot it up with the network cables disconnected, but when I have them connected and try to boot I can't get keyboard control, only mouse. Then if I boot without the network cables plugged in, as soon as I do the ram shoots through the roof and the machine starts to slow WAY down.

ShrapNel · 10-26-2009, 05:01 PM

Hi There

No - I have never been able to get this resolved - I have searched high and low, and have been able to find no help yet on any forums either. So, if you do ever find a solution... PLEASE will you post it here as well - and I will do the same.

When I reboot my server it is fine however for almost a week - and then it starts bogging down like it has only 256meg RAM. Do a reboot, and it is fine again for close to a week - so right now, every Sunday night I reboot my server in preperation for the week :) Crazy! I would not even concider going back to Server 2003 for this reason, 2008 to me is still that much better than 2003 - but that may be a different topic all together.

My servers are running 32bit, also the same spec's, but they are also running Terminal Services of course. It is almost as if gpsvc is a bucket, and it just gets fuller and fuller makes an effort to empty itself out, even if the TS users log off.

So, sorry, but I am still out of luck, but if I find something, I will post it here, if you will do the same place.

Regards

Soteriologist · 10-27-2009, 01:23 PM

Are you running Release 2? And if so, did you do an upgrade to Release 2 from the original 2008? Cause that's what I did. I'm still working through the problem BUT it seems that switching the following registry key fixes it:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/System/CurrentControlSet/Control/LSA

Under LSA look for the REG_DWORD called "LmCompatibilityLevel" and change it from "3" to "2" (it's in Hexadecimal).

I guess Microsoft will be including this in an update soon, but currently they have not. For Release 2 it's supposed to be set to 2 and not 3 and so it's a bug.

Here's some info I found about LmCompatabilityLevel:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../cc960646.aspx

Again:
>> This is only for if you upgraded from normal 2008 to Release 2
>> I'm still working on this with Microsoft and I'll get back to you with my findings.

ShrapNel · 10-27-2009, 02:08 PM

hey - thanks - I have not upgraded to Release 2, and wonder if I should do that? I am of the opinion that my server is running pretty well at the moment, except for this issue of course. Do you have thoughts on that?

Soteriologist · 10-28-2009, 01:57 PM

For me, I HAD to upgrade to R2 on at least two of my servers so I choose to do it to all of them. R2 comes with so many sweet extras that I would highly suggest going with it as soon as you can. The two most crucial for me were all of the new features in Hyper-V and Failover Clustering (or more specifically setting up a Failover Cluster of Hyper-V servers).

So now I have all of the following running R2:
Two Domain Controllers
Two Parent servers in a Failover Cluster, clustering 4 Hyper-V instances
4 Virtual Servers using Hyper-V

I really love all of the features that R2 has to offer. Unlike the differences between 2003 and 2003 R2 (wich were barely any), there's a really long list of big changes between 2008 and 2008 R2. Microsoft has a compiled list here:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l...8WS.10%29.aspx

As for the issue I'm having with my DCs: I'm also thinking that it's a problem with my Broadcom Teamed Network adapters. I got my servers to a stable state by uninstalling the team and the team management software. But now that I've made that registry change I'm going to see if I can re-enable the team on my secondary DC and get it up and running again.

ShrapNel · 10-28-2009, 02:11 PM

Yeah, I will probably look at doing the upgrade on one of my servers, I will just need to get the time blocked out, just for in case something goes wrong... and oh my, will it go wrong when you don't need it it.

Thanks for that info though.... still looking for the resolve to the original problem we have been having. I hope your problem is resolved with your network cards then.

Have a good one

09-07-2009, 08:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
ShrapNel Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Server 2008	gpsvc on Server 2008 eating Physical Memory Hi All... I have a server running Server 2008 Standard Edition, and I am using Group Policies to manage Terminal Services users, and it has been working great, untill recently. The server has been running for about 2 months, and then in the last 3 weeks the gpsvc service is using as much memory as what it can lay its hands on. I have reduced the frequency at which my Group Policies update, to see if this solves the problem, but it did not seem to. My server 2008 installation is up to date with windows updates, and has the latest service pack. I have run NOD32 and that came up clean. Right now my physical memory usage is on 96%, and users are complaining. I could add another 2GB of RAM to the server, but I am doubting whether this is the problem as it ran fine for 2 months prior. If I reboot the server, it gets back down to normal, and then it will take 2 or 3 days to get right back up to such high memory usage again, it is most frustrating to not be able to find this problem. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks so much!!

10-26-2009, 04:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
Soteriologist Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Windows 7	Re: gpsvc on Server 2008 eating Physical Memory You ever get this one figured out? I seem to be having a similar issue. -_- I'm running Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise 64bit and have 4 gigs of ram in the machine currently. I'm running into this issue on both of my domain controllers (they're built to the same specs and with the same hardware). I doubt it's a hardware problem for both of them to experience it at the same time and am more thinking that it's Windows related. I can log into the machine if I boot it up with the network cables disconnected, but when I have them connected and try to boot I can't get keyboard control, only mouse. Then if I boot without the network cables plugged in, as soon as I do the ram shoots through the roof and the machine starts to slow WAY down.

10-26-2009, 05:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
ShrapNel Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Server 2008	Re: gpsvc on Server 2008 eating Physical Memory Hi There No - I have never been able to get this resolved - I have searched high and low, and have been able to find no help yet on any forums either. So, if you do ever find a solution... PLEASE will you post it here as well - and I will do the same. When I reboot my server it is fine however for almost a week - and then it starts bogging down like it has only 256meg RAM. Do a reboot, and it is fine again for close to a week - so right now, every Sunday night I reboot my server in preperation for the week :) Crazy! I would not even concider going back to Server 2003 for this reason, 2008 to me is still that much better than 2003 - but that may be a different topic all together. My servers are running 32bit, also the same spec's, but they are also running Terminal Services of course. It is almost as if gpsvc is a bucket, and it just gets fuller and fuller makes an effort to empty itself out, even if the TS users log off. So, sorry, but I am still out of luck, but if I find something, I will post it here, if you will do the same place. Regards

10-27-2009, 01:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
Soteriologist Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Windows 7	Re: gpsvc on Server 2008 eating Physical Memory Are you running Release 2? And if so, did you do an upgrade to Release 2 from the original 2008? Cause that's what I did. I'm still working through the problem BUT it seems that switching the following registry key fixes it: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/System/CurrentControlSet/Control/LSA Under LSA look for the REG_DWORD called "LmCompatibilityLevel" and change it from "3" to "2" (it's in Hexadecimal). I guess Microsoft will be including this in an update soon, but currently they have not. For Release 2 it's supposed to be set to 2 and not 3 and so it's a bug. Here's some info I found about LmCompatabilityLevel: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../cc960646.aspx Again: >> This is only for if you upgraded from normal 2008 to Release 2 >> I'm still working on this with Microsoft and I'll get back to you with my findings.

10-27-2009, 02:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
ShrapNel Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Server 2008	Re: gpsvc on Server 2008 eating Physical Memory hey - thanks - I have not upgraded to Release 2, and wonder if I should do that? I am of the opinion that my server is running pretty well at the moment, except for this issue of course. Do you have thoughts on that?

10-28-2009, 01:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
Soteriologist Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Windows 7	Re: gpsvc on Server 2008 eating Physical Memory For me, I HAD to upgrade to R2 on at least two of my servers so I choose to do it to all of them. R2 comes with so many sweet extras that I would highly suggest going with it as soon as you can. The two most crucial for me were all of the new features in Hyper-V and Failover Clustering (or more specifically setting up a Failover Cluster of Hyper-V servers). So now I have all of the following running R2: Two Domain Controllers Two Parent servers in a Failover Cluster, clustering 4 Hyper-V instances 4 Virtual Servers using Hyper-V I really love all of the features that R2 has to offer. Unlike the differences between 2003 and 2003 R2 (wich were barely any), there's a really long list of big changes between 2008 and 2008 R2. Microsoft has a compiled list here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l...8WS.10%29.aspx As for the issue I'm having with my DCs: I'm also thinking that it's a problem with my Broadcom Teamed Network adapters. I got my servers to a stable state by uninstalling the team and the team management software. But now that I've made that registry change I'm going to see if I can re-enable the team on my secondary DC and get it up and running again.

10-28-2009, 02:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
ShrapNel Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Server 2008	Re: gpsvc on Server 2008 eating Physical Memory Yeah, I will probably look at doing the upgrade on one of my servers, I will just need to get the time blocked out, just for in case something goes wrong... and oh my, will it go wrong when you don't need it it. Thanks for that info though.... still looking for the resolve to the original problem we have been having. I hope your problem is resolved with your network cards then. Have a good one