svchost.exe high CPU usage when ITMU scan is run 1

[mib147]

Has anyone else seen this? Whenever the new Microsoft ITMU(Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates) scan is run, svchost.exe utilizes almost 100% of the cpu. Also, wuauclt.exe appears to take up quite a bit of CPU also. I am running SMS 2003 SP1 on Windows 2003 SP1 servers. I have seen this issue on Windows XP SP2 machines so far.

 

[mib147]

I got a lot of responses from some other forums telling me it is McAfee. I have completely disabled McAfee which has reduced the time of high cpu usage. However, I am still experiencing it.

 

[tbrennans]

That is an interesting revelation Neil, we have been using a script as needed on machines that have this problem, but its not really a fix...more of a bandaid. MS needs a real fix for this but it sounds like a design issue now

I dont recall who made it over on myitforum....

cd %windir%\system32
regsvr32 wuapi.dll /s
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll /s
regsvr32 wuaueng1.dll /s
regsvr32 wucltui.dll /s
regsvr32 wups.dll /s
regsvr32 wups2.dll /s
regsvr32 wuweb.dll /s
net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
rmdir /S /Q %windir%\softwaredistribution
net start wuauserv
net start bits
exit /B 0

 

[tbrennans]

actually I'm brain dead, that script was for those 11412 errors not high cpu use....

 

[mib147]

Well, I am willing to open a ticket with Microsoft if I can at least get some people to respond saying they have seen this issue. It must happen while any AV is completely turned off.

 

[tbrennans]

Take a look at this....if nothing else its something to think about if you are using hyperthreading on that server

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/0,39020330,39237341,00.htm#

 

[mib147]

After opening a ticket with Microsoft, it has been determined that this is a known issue. Here is an email I got from Microsoft:

I have reviewed some internal information as a result of looking at both KB articles that have been sent to you and internal reports of CPU spikes on XP SP2 machines. It was determined by the Product group that this behavior is normal on XP systems. Besides the spike in CPU usage, is the scan affected? Are applications slow to load? Are there any other symptoms?

I love the question that asks "Besides the spike in CPU usage, is the scan affected?". It's like asking "Beside the reason for you opening this ticket, are they any other problems?".

 

[tbrennans]

S0ooo this was closed and that's just the way it is as far as MS is concerned?

 

[mib147]

They are telling me that the high cpu usage is longer than EXPECTED and they want to do some troubleshooting.

 

[ncotton]

MIB...have you heard anything back from the all powerful on this matter?

Neil J Cotton
njc Information Systems
Systems Consultant
HND, BSc HONS, CCNA, BCS, IETF, DMTF

 

[mib147]

It's funny you ask. I just got the final answer the other day. Here is Microsoft's solution:

"At this point it's safe to say that using the old scan tool or turning on the notifications are probably your only two options."

They want me to notify the user that we are about to run a resource intensive process so please be patient.

 

[tbrennans]

That answer kinda bites....

I was looking at a workstation the other day going through this, and it seems it pegs any p3's but the p4 didnt get pegged. (close but not all the way)

 

[ncotton]

what a solution.....seems funny that in this ">>Push Forward<<" to the future industry, the manufacturer won't say...."ok ok, we messed it up...hey but you could always just use the old one". Doesn't that kind of undermine the process of "DEVELOPMENT"

Neil J Cotton
njc Information Systems
Systems Consultant
HND, BSc HONS, CCNA, BCS, IETF, DMTF

 

[ncotton]

Maybe the next version of windows will be marketed as...

"Microsoft Windows ReGress
Based on 3.11 Technology."

Marketting slogan...."Bringing 16 Colours and FILE MANAGER Back to the Future"

Neil J Cotton
njc Information Systems
Systems Consultant
HND, BSc HONS, CCNA, BCS, IETF, DMTF