Hi, I have server 2008 R2 running on physical box. Almost once a week the server freezes with high memory / processor utilization. Wen I look under the processes, the System (NT kernel) is running with over 1.5 million handles. Rebooting the server helps , but the number steadily starts to increase until it crashes again. I've researched the issue and in some cases it points to an external usb device. I have removed all usb devices and the rpoblem remains. Please help

Have you considered Windows System Resource Manager? ( http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc732553.aspx ) "With Windows System Resource Manager for the Windows Server 2008 R2 operating system, you can manage server processor and memory usage with standard or custom resource policies. Managing your resources can help ensure that all the services provided by a single server are available on an equal basis or that your resources will always be available to high-priority applications, services, or users. Windows System Resource Manager only manages processor resources when the combined processor load is greater than 70 percent. This means that it does not actively limit the resources that can be used by each consumer when processor load is low." http://mariusene.wordpress.com/

I thought about it, but it is not normal behavior. This issue is occurring only on one server, and I need to find the reason and fix for it.

I would update all drivers/firmware at first. I know like fo hp the proliant support pack prevented me some blue screen on a server. Thus the integrated software was needed to keep the server stable.MCP | MCTS 70-236: Exchange Server 2007, Configuring Twitter - @yagmoth555 () Blog: http://www.jabea.net | http://blogs.technet.com/b/wikininjas/

I would update all drivers/firmware at first. I know like fo hp the proliant support pack prevented me some blue screen on a server. Thus the integrated software was needed to keep the server stable.MCP | MCTS 70-236: Exchange Server 2007, Configuring Twitter - @yagmoth555 () Blog: http://www.jabea.net | http://blogs.technet.com/b/wikininjas/