I have configured a small Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials platform which does simple file sharing and email server hosting. It really isn't a very busy server. However on a fairly frequent basis (say once every 3 days) it suddenly hangs, although the server seems to be awake I am unable to log on remotely or from the system console - it just hangs waiting to process the logon.

The only way out of this is to power cycle the box, which obviously isn't a good thing. Inspection of the logs doesn't reveal anything interesting.

My guess is that this happens because of precious resource starvation (handles, memory or whatever), caused by an errant software application (such as mail server software).

Are there any suggestions for health monitoring options which might help to identify the cause? When I do manual inspection (when things are running okay) I can't see any concerns which I need to keep an e

Hi Andrew:

One of the frequent causes of this is real time anti virus.  If there is a pattern to it you can monitor with task manager resource monitor for the few hours before you think it would hang.  Another possibility is to use msconfig to stop various non essential services to see if you can isolate the offender.

What mail server is running on this Essentials Server?

Hi Larry,

Thanks for your reply. I hadn't thought it might be real-time AV, however that must be a possibility. All software is up to date.

I'm using Mailtraq for the mail server, and F-PROT AV. It went down again today (before I read your response) and required a power cycle to restore.

I have just added a remote reboot command on my client PC, using sysinternals psshutdown utility, which allows me to bounce the server from a shortcut. That is working whilst the server is normal, and I'm hoping it might work if the server goes AWOL - as there is no user interface for the psshutdown command (I'm thinking that the server is unresponsive as it tries to load the UI as I try to log on, which is why I was thinking it might be a GDI resource issue - I know GDI handles are a precious resource). If psshutdown works then at least I will be able to bounce the server without corrupting files (always a possibility if using the on/off switch).

Andrew

Andrew:

My experience has always been that the expected pop up about resources/RAM use does not occur, but, as a clue the AV shows millions of page faults in task manager.  Even the AV vendors deny this is a cause and effect, but after reporting it we see an update, the page faults stop and low and behold the issues is fixed.

In task manager you have to add columns to see hard page faults.

Hi AndrewM,

Just addition, please check if install all necessary Windows Updates on the server. Please also start a BPA Scan on the Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials and check if find some issues.

If any update, please feel free to let us know.

Best regards,

Justin Gu

I confirm that all Windows Updates are installed.

Tried to start the BPA, however it isn't shown on the Server Manager task list.