Windows Updates painfully slow on HP DL360g6 server

[dood]

Running Server 2008 R2. Server is a E5504 (quad 2.0), 4gb RAM, 2x146gb 10k rpm SAS HD in RAID 0.

This is not just a single server having this issue. It's all of our newer Quad-core DL360's (and one DL380). Basically, the machines are nice and fast for everything except installing Windows Updates.

Hard drive activity is minimal... it just sits there and hangs on every update. Looking at the process list, what I see is that "TrustedInstaller.exe" is only taking 25% of the CPU time. So, I initially thought it wasn't SMP capable. BUT, if I look at the performance tab, no one core is pegged... they're all just kind of idling along.

The updates do eventually finish, but it took me 5 hours to get one round done over the weekend.

Any thoughts on what the problem may be? I'm just trying to avoid having to contact HP or Microsoft about this, as neither one employs a single English-speaking customer support rep.

[willawake]

Re: Windows Updates painfully slow on HP DL360g6 server

could try hp forums
http://forums.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/home.do

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Windows Updates painfully slow on HP DL360g6 server

Do you have active-x restricted?

[willawake]

Re: Windows Updates painfully slow on HP DL360g6 server

did you test general network performance

[dood]

Re: Windows Updates painfully slow on HP DL360g6 server

Do you have active-x restricted?

Active-x was restricted by default in '08 R2, but I'm also not using the website to update... using the built-in Windows Update application.

Willa- The slowness occurs after the updates are downloaded and are in the installation phase.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Windows Updates painfully slow on HP DL360g6 server

Are you using Symantec crap?

[dood]

Re: Windows Updates painfully slow on HP DL360g6 server

For testing, I just loaded up a server with OS and nothing else.

We use Kaspersky, and have no issues with it on our desktops. But yeah, it's not even loaded on the test server.

I guess I might have to work with HP on this. Their forums are full of unanswered threads, so I'll probably just chat with tech support.

[willawake]

Re: Windows Updates painfully slow on HP DL360g6 server

it sound like windows problem. hello mumbai

[toastygoodness]

Re: Windows Updates painfully slow on HP DL360g6 server

it seems 2008r2 just has slow microsoft update in general. i've got opterons here so its not really cpu-specific. i guess it just takes a while sometimes. you could try emptying out the update cache, that sped it up for me, tho it was only temporary.

i say go for manual hotfixes. dl them and update when you want. faster for sure, as long as you pay attention.

[bgavin]

Re: Windows Updates painfully slow on HP DL360g6 server

Do you have any clusters on this subnet?

On my last contract, we came across the rather nasty problem of 100mb interfaces getting packet-stormed by clusters running gigabit interfaces.

After many hours with MS support, the chatty clusters (2003) are "working as designed". The only solution was getting ALL 100mb interfaces off the subnet.

Good luck with Vista Server R2. When my contract ended in mid-July, it still isn't ready for prime time.

The last firmware updates I was installing on G6 was the 8.70 CD IIRC.