Windows VMs randomly getting into standby mode

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Windows VMs randomly getting into standby mode. And below snippets will report in the ESXi host log files at the time of the issue:

 

/var/run/log/vmware.log

PIIX4: PMAccessPM got ACPI S1 request
MsgHint: msg.piix4pm.guestInS1
"Your guest has entered a standby sleep state. Use the keyboard or mouse while grabbed to wake it"

/var/run/log/hostd.log

 

 Db(167) Hostd[2099618]: [Originator@6876 sub=Vmsvc.vm:/vmfs/volumes/DatastoreUUID/VM-Name/VM-Name.vmx] Handling vmx message 16189597: Your guest has entered a standby sleep state. Use the keyboard or mouse while grabbed to wake it.

 Db(167) Hostd[2099560]: -->

 Wa(164) Hostd[2099618]: [Originator@6876 sub=Vmsvc.vm:/vmfs/volumes/DatastoreUUID/VM-Name/VM-Name.vmx] Failed to find activation record, event user unknown.

 In(166) Hostd[2099618]: [Originator@6876 sub=Vimsvc.ha-eventmgr] Event 17133 : Message on VM-Name on ESXi-Host-Name in ha-datacenter: Your guest has entered a standby sleep state. Use the keyboard or mouse while grabbed to wake it.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0
VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0

Cause

S1 is one of the power states defined by Advanced Configuration and Power management Interface (ACPI). In Windows, this state is also called the Standby mode.

In this state, the CPU clock is disabled for power saving. However, in virtual machines, the vCPU thread pauses and closes the screen.

Resolution

To prevent the virtual machine from entering the Standby mode, disable the Standby mode option in guest operating system.

 

To disable the Standby mode option in Windows XP:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click Power Options > Power Schemes > System Standby.
3. Set System Standby to Never.

To disable the Standby mode option in Windows 7 and later:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click Power Options > Preferred Plan > Change plan setting > Change advanced power settings.
3. Expand Sleep.
4. Set Sleep after to Never.

Additional Information