Create a New Resource Allocation Policy

Applies To: Windows Server 2008

A resource allocation policy defines how resources are managed by Windows System Resource Manager. Only one resource allocation policy at a time can be managing a computer.

A resource allocation policy is made of one or more resource allocations. Resource allocations apply to applications and processes that match a process matching criterion.

Creating a resource allocation policy

A resource allocation policy must contain at least one resource allocation. Types of resource allocations include CPU targets, memory limits, and processor affinity. You can also sub-allocate resources within one resource allocation in a resource allocation policy. For more information about sub-allocation, see Sub-Allocate Resources.

Membership in the local Administrators group, or equivalent, is required to complete these procedures.

To create a new resource allocation

1. Open Windows System Resource Manager.

2. In the navigation tree, right-click Resource Allocation Policies, and then click New Resource Allocation Policy.

3. In Policy name, type a descriptive name for the new resource allocation policy, and then click Add.

4. Use the procedures that follow to create a CPU target resource allocation, a memory resource allocation, or processor affinity in the Add or Edit Resource Allocation dialog box.

5. When you are finished adding resource allocations, click OK.

The most common type of resource allocation is a CPU target. For more information, see Understanding Processor Management in Windows System Resource Manager.

Creating a CPU target resource allocation

1. In the Add or Edit Resource Allocation dialog box, click the General tab, click Process matching criteria, and then select a process matching criterion for which matched processes will be managed by the resource allocation.

2. In the Percentage of processor allocated for this resource text box, type (or select a value from the drop-down list) the percentage of available CPU bandwidth to be allocated, and then click OK.

Memory resource allocations limit the amount of memory consumed by a single process, and they can trigger user-defined actions when limits are exceeded. For more information, see Understanding Memory Management in Windows System Resource Manager.

To create a memory resource allocation

1. In the Add or Edit Resource Allocation dialog box, click the General tab, click Process matching criteria, and then select a process matching criterion for which matched processes will be managed by the resource allocation.

2. On the Memory tab, select one or both:

   • Use maximum committed memory for each process

   • Use maximum working set limit for each process

3. If you selected Use maximum committed memory for each process:

   • In Maximum committed memory limit per process, type a value in megabytes.

   • In If memory is surpassed, select an action to take when the limit is reached.

4. If you selected Use maximum working set limit for each process, in Maximum working set limit per process, type a value in megabytes.

5. Click OK.

Processor affinity limits matched processes to the processors with which they have affinity. For more information, see Understanding Processor Management in Windows System Resource Manager.

To define processor affinity

1. In the Add or Edit Resource Allocation dialog box, click the General tab, click Process matching criteria, and then select a process matching criterion for which matched processes will be managed by the resource allocation.

2. On the Advanced tab, select Use specified processors.

3. Enter the processor number, processor number list, or range of processor numbers, and then click OK. (Processor numbers range from 0 to (n-1), where n is equal to the number of processors in the server.)

   • To specify a single processor, type the processor number.

   • To specify a processor number list, separate the processor numbers with a comma. For example, type: 0, 3, 7.

   • To specify a processor number range, separate the first and last processor number with a hyphen. For example, type: 2-4.

Additional considerations

• To open Windows System Resource Manager, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Windows System Resource Manager. In the Connect to Computer dialog box, select This computer, and then click Connect. Microsoft Management Console will start with the Windows System Resource Manager (Local) snap-in open.

Additional references

• Windows System Resource Manager

• Working with Resource Allocation Policies

• Working with Process Matching Criteria