Hi,

I upgraded today to the very latest stable unraid version as it seems like there will be a new stable soon i want to be ready for that upgrade, anyway, i noticed now that my windows 2019 server VM that i have been using for years barely functions now, its lagging like crazy when i remote into it, but whenever i manage to open the task manager there is no memory or cpu usage.

Since my virtual machine XML is from an unraid version from years ago, i decided to go in and check if maybe there is some new settings in QEMU that changed, but whenever i save my settings in the new virtual machine editor page, the VM wont even boot properly, it just hangs while loading, i cant see any error messages. Doing a manual "trial and error" i figured out which snippet in the xml that makes the vm stall when using the default settings provided by newest version of unraid:

These "features" are auto populated by new unraid, and makes the VM not able to boot just hangs during loading "spinning bubbles" under unraid logo spins for awhile then just stops, never opens windows.

<features>

<acpi/>

<apic/>

<hyperv mode='custom'>

<relaxed state='on'/>

<vapic state='on'/> <spinlocks state='on' retries='8191'/>

<vpindex state='on'/>

<synic state='on'/>

<stimer state='on'/>

<vendor_id state='on' value='none'/>

</hyperv> <kvm>

<hidden state='on'/>

</kvm>

<ioapic driver='kvm'/>

</features>

These "features" were in my old configuration file, and if i use them instead the VM boots fine, but like i said its lagging like crazy.

<features>

<acpi/>

<apic/>

<hyperv mode='custom'>

<relaxed state='on'/>

<vapic state='on'/>

<spinlocks state='on' retries='8191'/>

<vpindex state='on'/>

<runtime state='on'/>

<synic state='on'/>

<stimer state='on'/>

<reset state='off'/>

<vendor_id state='on' value='whatever'/>

<frequencies state='on'/>

<reenlightenment state='on'/>

<tlbflush state='on'/>

<ipi state='on'/>

<evmcs state='on'/>

</hyperv>

<kvm>

<hidden state='on'/>

</kvm>

<ioapic driver='kvm'/>

</features>

I don't know if this is of any relevance at all, but all i know is my VM worked amazingly fine in the older version of unraid but in the newer one it is bad.

Here is the full "old configuration" that worked fine in the old unraid version:6.12.15

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>

<domain type='kvm'>

<name>VMServer</name>

<uuid>1fa896e6-907e-bf3c-3782-09d6ad2a33ce</uuid>

<description>Hyper-v virtualization host</description>

<metadata>

<vmtemplate xmlns="unraid" name="Windows Server 2016" icon="windows.png" os="windows2016"/>

</metadata>

<memory unit='KiB'>56640625</memory>

<currentMemory unit='KiB'>56640625</currentMemory>

<memoryBacking>

<nosharepages/>

</memoryBacking>

<vcpu placement='static'>32</vcpu>

<cputune>

<vcpupin vcpu='0' cpuset='0'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='1' cpuset='16'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='2' cpuset='1'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='3' cpuset='17'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='4' cpuset='2'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='5' cpuset='18'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='6' cpuset='3'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='7' cpuset='19'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='8' cpuset='4'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='9' cpuset='20'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='10' cpuset='5'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='11' cpuset='21'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='12' cpuset='6'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='13' cpuset='22'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='14' cpuset='7'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='15' cpuset='23'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='16' cpuset='8'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='17' cpuset='24'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='18' cpuset='9'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='19' cpuset='25'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='20' cpuset='10'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='21' cpuset='26'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='22' cpuset='11'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='23' cpuset='27'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='24' cpuset='12'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='25' cpuset='28'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='26' cpuset='13'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='27' cpuset='29'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='28' cpuset='14'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='29' cpuset='30'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='30' cpuset='15'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='31' cpuset='31'/>

</cputune>

<os>

<type arch='x86_64' machine='pc-q35-6.2'>hvm</type>

<loader readonly='yes' type='pflash'>/usr/share/qemu/ovmf-x64/OVMF_CODE-pure-efi.fd</loader>

<nvram>/etc/libvirt/qemu/nvram/1fa896e6-907e-bf3c-3782-09d6ad2a33ce_VARS-pure-efi.fd</nvram>

</os>

<features>

<acpi/>

<apic/>

<hyperv mode='custom'>

<relaxed state='on'/>

<vapic state='on'/>

<spinlocks state='on' retries='8191'/>

<vpindex state='on'/>

<runtime state='on'/>

<synic state='on'/>

<stimer state='on'/>

<reset state='off'/>

<vendor_id state='on' value='whatever'/>

<frequencies state='on'/>

<reenlightenment state='on'/>

<tlbflush state='on'/>

<ipi state='on'/>

<evmcs state='on'/>

</hyperv>

<kvm>

<hidden state='on'/>

</kvm>

<ioapic driver='kvm'/>

</features>

<cpu mode='host-passthrough' check='none' migratable='on'>

<topology sockets='1' dies='1' cores='16' threads='2'/>

<cache mode='passthrough'/>

</cpu>

<clock offset='localtime'>

<timer name='rtc' tickpolicy='catchup'/>

<timer name='pit' tickpolicy='delay'/>

<timer name='hpet' present='no'/>

<timer name='hypervclock' present='yes'/>

<timer name='tsc' present='yes' mode='native'/>

</clock>

<on_poweroff>destroy</on_poweroff>

<on_reboot>restart</on_reboot>

<on_crash>restart</on_crash>

<devices>

<emulator>/usr/local/sbin/qemu</emulator>

<disk type='block' device='disk'>

<driver name='qemu' type='raw' cache='writeback'/>

<source dev='/dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST16000NE000-2RW103_ZL2PXKS1'/>

<target dev='vdb' bus='virtio'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x06' slot='0x00' function='0x0'/>

</disk>

<controller type='sata' index='0'>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x1f' function='0x2'/>

</controller>

<controller type='pci' index='0' model='pcie-root'/>

<controller type='pci' index='1' model='pcie-root-port'>

<model name='pcie-root-port'/>

<target chassis='1' port='0x10'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x02' function='0x0' multifunction='on'/>

</controller>

<controller type='pci' index='2' model='pcie-root-port'>

<model name='pcie-root-port'/>

<target chassis='2' port='0x11'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x02' function='0x1'/>

</controller>

<controller type='pci' index='3' model='pcie-root-port'>

<model name='pcie-root-port'/>

<target chassis='3' port='0x12'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x02' function='0x2'/>

</controller>

<controller type='pci' index='4' model='pcie-root-port'>

<model name='pcie-root-port'/>

<target chassis='4' port='0x13'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x02' function='0x3'/>

</controller>

<controller type='pci' index='5' model='pcie-root-port'>

<model name='pcie-root-port'/>

<target chassis='5' port='0x14'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x02' function='0x4'/>

</controller>

<controller type='pci' index='6' model='pcie-root-port'>

<model name='pcie-root-port'/>

<target chassis='6' port='0x15'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x02' function='0x5'/>

</controller>

<controller type='pci' index='7' model='pcie-root-port'>

<model name='pcie-root-port'/>

<target chassis='7' port='0x16'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x02' function='0x6'/>

</controller>

<controller type='pci' index='8' model='pcie-root-port'>

<model name='pcie-root-port'/>

<target chassis='8' port='0x17'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x02' function='0x7'/>

</controller>

<controller type='virtio-serial' index='0'>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x02' slot='0x00' function='0x0'/>

</controller>

<controller type='usb' index='0' model='ich9-ehci1'>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x07' function='0x7'/>

</controller>

<controller type='usb' index='0' model='ich9-uhci1'>

<master startport='0'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x07' function='0x0' multifunction='on'/>

</controller>

<controller type='usb' index='0' model='ich9-uhci2'>

<master startport='2'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x07' function='0x1'/>

</controller>

<controller type='usb' index='0' model='ich9-uhci3'>

<master startport='4'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x07' function='0x2'/>

</controller>

<serial type='pty'>

<target type='isa-serial' port='0'>

<model name='isa-serial'/>

</target>

</serial>

<console type='pty'>

<target type='serial' port='0'/>

</console>

<channel type='unix'>

<target type='virtio' name='org.qemu.guest_agent.0'/>

<address type='virtio-serial' controller='0' bus='0' port='1'/>

</channel>

<input type='tablet' bus='usb'>

<address type='usb' bus='0' port='1'/>

</input>

<input type='mouse' bus='ps2'/>

<input type='keyboard' bus='ps2'/>

<graphics type='vnc' port='-1' autoport='yes' websocket='-1' listen='0.0.0.0' keymap='en-us'>

<listen type='address' address='0.0.0.0'/>

</graphics>

<audio id='1' type='none'/>

<video>

<model type='qxl' ram='65536' vram='65536' vgamem='16384' heads='1' primary='yes'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x01' function='0x0'/>

</video>

<hostdev mode='subsystem' type='pci' managed='yes'>

<driver name='vfio'/>

<source>

<address domain='0x0000' bus='0x01' slot='0x00' function='0x1'/>

</source>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x07' slot='0x00' function='0x0'/>

</hostdev>

<hostdev mode='subsystem' type='pci' managed='yes'>

<driver name='vfio'/>

<source>

<address domain='0x0000' bus='0x04' slot='0x00' function='0x0'/>

</source>

<boot order='1'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x03' slot='0x00' function='0x0'/>

</hostdev>

<hostdev mode='subsystem' type='pci' managed='yes'>

<driver name='vfio'/>

<source>

<address domain='0x0000' bus='0xc3' slot='0x00' function='0x0'/>

</source>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x08' slot='0x00' function='0x0'/>

</hostdev>

<memballoon model='none'/>

</devices>

</domain>

I was asking AI and it was suggesting me to use "virtio" instead of ide, but i cannot see any reference to IDE in my old configuration?

<disk type='block' device='disk'>

<driver name='qemu' type='raw' cache='writeback'/>

<source dev='/dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST16000NE000-2RW103_ZL2PXKS1'/>

<target dev='vdb' bus='virtio'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x06' slot='0x00' function='0x0'/>

</disk>

Either way, i removed the entire disk block to see if the lagginess went away and it remains.

My old config uses "pc-q35-6.2" i've changed that to the most modern version "pc-q35-9.2" the lag still remains.

I've checked eventlog in the windows installation and there is no reference to any errors there.

Here is the full "new configuration" that i'm using, but like mentioned earlier i have to grab the "features" from my old config to make the new one work, otherwise it just stalls during loading, i don't know why, maybe someone can tell me?

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>

<domain type='kvm' id='25'>

<name>VMServer</name>

<uuid>1fa896e6-907e-bf3c-3782-09d6ad2a33ce</uuid>

<description>Hyper-v virtualization host</description>

<metadata>

<vmtemplate xmlns="unraid" name="Windows Server 2016" icon="windows.png" os="windows2016" iconold="windows.png" webui=""/>

</metadata>

<memory unit='KiB'>51381120</memory>

<currentMemory unit='KiB'>51381120</currentMemory>

<memoryBacking>

<nosharepages/>

</memoryBacking>

<vcpu placement='static'>32</vcpu>

<cputune>

<vcpupin vcpu='0' cpuset='0'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='1' cpuset='16'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='2' cpuset='1'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='3' cpuset='17'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='4' cpuset='2'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='5' cpuset='18'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='6' cpuset='3'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='7' cpuset='19'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='8' cpuset='4'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='9' cpuset='20'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='10' cpuset='5'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='11' cpuset='21'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='12' cpuset='6'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='13' cpuset='22'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='14' cpuset='7'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='15' cpuset='23'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='16' cpuset='8'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='17' cpuset='24'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='18' cpuset='9'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='19' cpuset='25'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='20' cpuset='10'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='21' cpuset='26'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='22' cpuset='11'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='23' cpuset='27'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='24' cpuset='12'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='25' cpuset='28'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='26' cpuset='13'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='27' cpuset='29'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='28' cpuset='14'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='29' cpuset='30'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='30' cpuset='15'/>

<vcpupin vcpu='31' cpuset='31'/>

</cputune>

<resource>

<partition>/machine</partition>

</resource>

<os>

<type arch='x86_64' machine='pc-q35-9.2'>hvm</type>

<loader readonly='yes' type='pflash' format='raw'>/usr/share/qemu/ovmf-x64/OVMF_CODE-pure-efi.fd</loader>

<nvram format='raw'>/etc/libvirt/qemu/nvram/1fa896e6-907e-bf3c-3782-09d6ad2a33ce_VARS-pure-efi.fd</nvram>

</os>

<features>

<acpi/>

<apic/>

<hyperv mode='custom'>

<relaxed state='on'/>

<vapic state='on'/>

<spinlocks state='on' retries='8191'/>

<vpindex state='on'/>

<runtime state='on'/>

<synic state='on'/>

<stimer state='on'/>

<reset state='off'/>

<vendor_id state='on' value='whatever'/>

<frequencies state='on'/>

<reenlightenment state='on'/>

<tlbflush state='on'/>

<ipi state='on'/>

<evmcs state='on'/>

</hyperv>

<kvm>

<hidden state='on'/>

</kvm>

<ioapic driver='kvm'/>

</features>

<cpu mode='host-passthrough' check='none' migratable='on'>

<topology sockets='1' dies='1' clusters='1' cores='16' threads='2'/>

<cache mode='passthrough'/>

</cpu>

<clock offset='localtime'>

<timer name='rtc' tickpolicy='catchup'/>

<timer name='pit' tickpolicy='delay'/>

<timer name='hpet' present='no'/>

<timer name='hypervclock' present='yes'/>

<timer name='tsc' present='yes' mode='native'/>

</clock>

<on_poweroff>destroy</on_poweroff>

<on_reboot>restart</on_reboot>

<on_crash>restart</on_crash>

<devices>

<emulator>/usr/local/sbin/qemu</emulator>

<disk type='block' device='disk'>

<driver name='qemu' type='raw' cache='writeback'/>

<source dev='/dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST16000NE000-2RW103_ZL2PXKS1' index='1'/>

<backingStore/>

<target dev='vdb' bus='virtio'/>

<alias name='virtio-disk1'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x06' slot='0x00' function='0x0'/>

</disk>

<controller type='sata' index='0'>

<alias name='ide'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x1f' function='0x2'/>

</controller>

<controller type='pci' index='0' model='pcie-root'>

<alias name='pcie.0'/>

</controller>

<controller type='pci' index='1' model='pcie-root-port'>

<model name='pcie-root-port'/>

<target chassis='1' port='0x10'/>

<alias name='pci.1'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x02' function='0x0' multifunction='on'/>

</controller>

<controller type='pci' index='2' model='pcie-root-port'>

<model name='pcie-root-port'/>

<target chassis='2' port='0x11'/>

<alias name='pci.2'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x02' function='0x1'/>

</controller>

<controller type='pci' index='3' model='pcie-root-port'>

<model name='pcie-root-port'/>

<target chassis='3' port='0x12'/>

<alias name='pci.3'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x02' function='0x2'/>

</controller>

<controller type='pci' index='4' model='pcie-root-port'>

<model name='pcie-root-port'/>

<target chassis='4' port='0x13'/>

<alias name='pci.4'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x02' function='0x3'/>

</controller>

<controller type='pci' index='5' model='pcie-root-port'>

<model name='pcie-root-port'/>

<target chassis='5' port='0x14'/>

<alias name='pci.5'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x02' function='0x4'/>

</controller>

<controller type='pci' index='6' model='pcie-root-port'>

<model name='pcie-root-port'/>

<target chassis='6' port='0x15'/>

<alias name='pci.6'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x02' function='0x5'/>

</controller>

<controller type='pci' index='7' model='pcie-root-port'>

<model name='pcie-root-port'/>

<target chassis='7' port='0x16'/>

<alias name='pci.7'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x02' function='0x6'/>

</controller>

<controller type='pci' index='8' model='pcie-root-port'>

<model name='pcie-root-port'/>

<target chassis='8' port='0x17'/>

<alias name='pci.8'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x02' function='0x7'/>

</controller>

<controller type='virtio-serial' index='0'>

<alias name='virtio-serial0'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x02' slot='0x00' function='0x0'/>

</controller>

<controller type='usb' index='0' model='ich9-ehci1'>

<alias name='usb'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x07' function='0x7'/>

</controller>

<controller type='usb' index='0' model='ich9-uhci1'>

<alias name='usb'/>

<master startport='0'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x07' function='0x0' multifunction='on'/>

</controller>

<controller type='usb' index='0' model='ich9-uhci2'>

<alias name='usb'/>

<master startport='2'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x07' function='0x1'/>

</controller>

<controller type='usb' index='0' model='ich9-uhci3'>

<alias name='usb'/>

<master startport='4'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x07' function='0x2'/>

</controller>

<serial type='pty'>

<source path='/dev/pts/1'/>

<target type='isa-serial' port='0'>

<model name='isa-serial'/>

</target>

<alias name='serial0'/>

</serial>

<console type='pty' tty='/dev/pts/1'>

<source path='/dev/pts/1'/>

<target type='serial' port='0'/>

<alias name='serial0'/>

</console>

<channel type='unix'>

<source mode='bind' path='/run/libvirt/qemu/channel/25-VMServer/org.qemu.guest_agent.0'/>

<target type='virtio' name='org.qemu.guest_agent.0' state='connected'/>

<alias name='channel0'/>

<address type='virtio-serial' controller='0' bus='0' port='1'/>

</channel>

<input type='tablet' bus='usb'>

<alias name='input0'/>

<address type='usb' bus='0' port='1'/>

</input>

<input type='mouse' bus='ps2'>

<alias name='input1'/>

</input>

<input type='keyboard' bus='ps2'>

<alias name='input2'/>

</input>

<graphics type='vnc' port='5900' autoport='yes' websocket='5700' listen='0.0.0.0' keymap='en-us'>

<listen type='address' address='0.0.0.0'/>

</graphics>

<audio id='1' type='none'/>

<video>

<model type='qxl' ram='65536' vram='65536' vgamem='16384' heads='1' primary='yes'/>

<alias name='video0'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x01' function='0x0'/>

</video>

<hostdev mode='subsystem' type='pci' managed='yes'>

<driver name='vfio'/>

<source>

<address domain='0x0000' bus='0x01' slot='0x00' function='0x1'/>

</source>

<alias name='hostdev0'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x07' slot='0x00' function='0x0'/>

</hostdev>

<hostdev mode='subsystem' type='pci' managed='yes'>

<driver name='vfio'/>

<source>

<address domain='0x0000' bus='0x04' slot='0x00' function='0x0'/>

</source>

<boot order='1'/>

<alias name='hostdev1'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x03' slot='0x00' function='0x0'/>

</hostdev>

<hostdev mode='subsystem' type='pci' managed='yes'>

<driver name='vfio'/>

<source>

<address domain='0x0000' bus='0xc3' slot='0x00' function='0x0'/>

</source>

<alias name='hostdev2'/>

<address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x08' slot='0x00' function='0x0'/>

</hostdev>

<watchdog model='itco' action='reset'>

<alias name='watchdog0'/>

</watchdog>

<memballoon model='none'/>

</devices>

<seclabel type='dynamic' model='dac' relabel='yes'>

<label>+0:+100</label>

<imagelabel>+0:+100</imagelabel>

</seclabel>

</domain>

your ideas would be very welcome, i should add that i mostly feel the lag when i am remoting to the server, i didn't notice any slowdowns accessing the VM via SMB or anything like that, which perhaps indicates its a gpu rendering issue? Either way, your ideas are very appreciated, thank you.

i think i found the culprit, i just figured it had to do with the upgrade, but it actually was me changing some settings i found in unraid after the upgrade, such as the "power mode" feature that wasn't available previously, i tested it and put it to "power save" and i saw it dropped the watts used by the server by a lot ... nice i guess, but i guess this is the drawback, stuff like clicking the gui in a vm wont trigger the threads to boost and you're stuck trying to render an interface made for computers in 2020 with a 500mhz cpu because the threads are asleep, i'll tinker with it but this is definitely the reason for the sluggish feel.

If any of you have any idea why the default features for the VM makes is not load, please let me know, as for the lagging VM i am considering that resolved, it was the power save feature.

Edited October 19, 2025Oct 19 by je82