[SOLVED] Howto prevent hiberfil.sys on Windows Guests

[hubertkr]

We are currently testing proxmox 8.1.4 and migrating some linux and windows guests from vmware esx (because of broadcoms unqualified actual moves) to proxmox/kvm and we are impressed from proxmox.
1. We are currently watching that the disks of Windows Machines keeps growing because on the Windows guests proxmox/kvm is activating the hibernate mode (hiberfil.sys), even if it was disabled on Windows Guests. Because the space consumption is large, we like to disable the hibernate modus. Is hibernation vital for Proxmox, perhaps on online-migrating machines or storage or other things?
How can we disable hibernation (in pve Web interface or command line qm - qemu/kvm command line)?

2. Is a online migration from vmware to Proxmox possible? We hadn't found any documentation regarding this.

 

[cheiss]

Hi,

We are currently watching that the disks of Windows Machines keeps growing because on the Windows guests proxmox/kvm is activating the hibernate mode (hiberfil.sys), even if it was disabled on Windows Guests.

In general, that's not something controlled/triggered by KVM, but a setting that must be configured solely inside the VM itself. What exact steps did you take to try to disable hibernation?

I'd also recommend reading our Windows 10 guest best practices guide.

2. Is a online migration from vmware to Proxmox possible? We hadn't found any documentation regarding this.

Unfortunately, not without some downtime. We have a guide specifically for migrating VMs with as minimal downtime as possible: Attach Disk & Move Disk (minimal downtime). This requires just a shared storage.

 

[cwt]

Within the Windows VM open a cmd shell as administrator and run

powercfg -h off

 

[hubertkr]

Thanks for the quick reply

Yes exactly, i have done that:
powercfg-h off
after a reboot the hiberfil.sys is present again

than i have tried:
powercfg -setactive 8c5e7fda-e8bf-4a96-9a85-a6e23a8c635c
powershell -command "& {set-itemproperty 'HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Power' -name HiberbootEnabled -value 0}"
powercfg -change -standby-timeout-dc 0
powercfg -change -standby-timeout-ac 0

Same result, hiberfil.sys consumes space after reboot
It must be a option in proxmox or kvm that cause hibernation or perhaps the virtio guest tools?

 

[cwt]

Did you uninstall the VMWare tools (if installed) after migration? Sometimes they tend to recreate the hiberfil.sys

 

[hubertkr]

You are right, vmware guest tools creates the hiberfil.sys.
T had tried to uninstall vmware tools but seems, that it can't be uninstalled, seems that it needs the cdrom mounted with the vmware tool install routine. So i cleaned the vmware tools manually and after reboot there is no fastboot file anymore.
I have to find a routine to cleanly uninstall vmware tools

Thanks for the quick help, great

 

[cwt]

Afaik you can run the setup from the standalone exe/installer and choose „modify/uninstall“.

 

[cheiss]

You are right, vmware guest tools creates the hiberfil.sys.
[..]
So i cleaned the vmware tools manually and after reboot there is no fastboot file anymore.

Great to hear that solved it!
Could you just please mark the thread as SOLVED, by editing the initial post? There should be a dropdown near the title. That way people can find it easier in the future.

T had tried to uninstall vmware tools but seems, that it can't be uninstalled, seems that it needs the cdrom mounted with the vmware tool install routine.
[..]
I have to find a routine to cleanly uninstall vmware tools

If it's just the case that it needs the CD-ROM present, you can always download the appropriate ISO and simply add to the VM as CD-ROM drive.