Ubuntu 10.04 Server on Hyper-V Server R2 has sluggish install and command line
I've installed Ubuntu Server 10.04 (64 bit) on a Hyper-V Server R2. I've encountered two issues that I think are related:
- Very slow install
- Very slow command prompt
The text-mode installer goes through a series of text-based prompt windows. It takes 7-10 seconds for each of these windows to draw on the screen. The end result is that every time I answer a prompt and hit enter I wait for 15 seconds while the screen redraws line by line. I can literally see each line of text being drawn (like the old 300 baud modems days).
Once done installing, scrolling on the command line is super slow. For instance, if a simple command, like "ls", causes the screen to scroll, it will scroll very slowly.
This happens on a fresh install. The server functions as a LAMP server and an OpenSSH server, but that's it (I don't even have any Virtual Hosts set up yet). AND this only happens on the Virtual Machine console. I access the console through Hyper-V Manager and don't have this problem on any of my other Virtual Machines.
Also, this problem does NOT happen when accessing a shell through OpenSSH.
How can I improve this performance issue?
Solution 1:
To work around this issue, you need to disable the frame buffer module: edit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-framebuffer.conf and add the following line:
blacklist vga16fb
Reboot and the console should be fine.
This solved the problem for me. I learned about it here: http://solyaris.wordpress.com/2010/05/01/ubuntu-10-04-on-intel-driver-and-server-frame-buffer/
Solution 2:
It looks like screen refresh performance from the console is pretty poor for Ubuntu (and I assume all Linux distros and possible DOS), even after installing the Hyper-V components. The Hyper-V integration components are part of Ubuntu 10.04. Install them and then manage using ssh.
To install the compnents, see http://blog.allanglesit.com/Blog/tabid/66/EntryId/53/Hyper-V-Guests-Ubuntu-10-04-Alpha-3-Synthetic-Devices.aspx
To install ssh, run
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install openssh-server
Solution 3:
Let me guess - you do not have enlightment components installed (are there some for ubuntu?). THis would kill a lot of things - drawing, for example, would be slow. Disc IO, too.
Are other / windows based machines fast?
Solution 4:
Creds to snowsmash@ubuntu forums Disabling Framebuffer in Installer
vga16fb.modeset=0