RDSH 2019 Quadro RTX4000 only 30+ user before wdm.exe crash

Question

Hello

Short description:
Major problems with windows server 2019 (remote desktop session host "Terminal server")
and QUADRO RTX 4000. It is not possible to connect more than 30+ users.

Long description:
Windows Server 2019 fully patched.
Remote session host.
(new) Quadro RTX 4000 Driver 452.06
Lenovo SR650-7X06
128Gig RAM
3x960 ENT SSD.

With this enabled:
Local Computer Policy \ Computer Configuration \ Administrative Templates \ Windows Components \ Remote Desktop Services \ Remote Desktop Session Host \ Remote Session Environment
“Use the hardware default graphics adapter for all Remote Desktop Services sessions”

Then when I have real users, no more than 30+ can connect before it goes wrong.
With pure test users (lower resolution etc.) I can connect 40+ users.

The error that occurs is that DWM.exe crashes, for all logged in users.
That makes the server inaccessible for several minutes.

With this disabled:
(“Use the hardware default graphics adapter for all Remote Desktop Services sessions”)
I can connect with 80+ users.
But DWM.exe never crashes.

In this thread it is exactly the same problem.
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/lync/en-US/6779b586-c158-491c-b76b-353d5a490642/server-2016-rds-connections-maxing-out-and-crashing-dwmexe?forum= winserverTS

If it is a memory that runs out, then I have not been able to find which and how I can see the use of it.

And anyone know how / if you can ping the people in the archived thread?
They probably still have the same problem or a solution.

I have opened a case with Nvidia but they have not been replayed yet (consumer support)

Answer 1

Hi,
I've searched a while both internally and externally but there seemed be fewer things could be done from windows server side.
Have you got a chance to check the suggestion shared by EckiS below?

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/3789f0e5-8806-4d64-8d1c-3a2940193e1e/dwm-crashing-intermittently-when-connected-via-rdp-on-windows-10?forum=win10itprogeneral

Since you've reached the Nvidia support, kindly wait for the update and if there is anything needed from windows, please feel free to revert here.

Also, if the problem has already impacted the product environment, maybe you could change the graphic card as a test.

Thanks for your understanding.

Best Regards,
Jenny

Answer 2

Hello
The setting to turn off wddm does not exist on Server 2019.
Tried to add the change manually to the registry but it makes no difference.
In addition, I need the extra graphics from the graphics card and wddm.
The problem is it is a production server. This problem was not found during the test phase. Did new tests and I can connect 46 users with wddm, without wddm 120+.
Can you somehow send PM to people in the first post I linked to in my first post?

Answer 3

Hello,
we are experiencing a similar problem with our new 2019 terminal servers and Nvidia Quadro RTX 5000. The approximately 31st rdp-user only sees a black or purple screen and can’t login. Event log says that dwm.exe crashed. Fortunately, already logged in users aren’t affected. Installation of the most recent driver 471.11-quadro-rtx-winserv-2016-2019-64bit-international-whql.exe did not help.
Has a solution been found yet? Did Nvidia Support answer?

Regards, Eric

Answer 4

Hello,

I have exactly the same problem with Windows Server 2019 and NVIDIA RTX 6000. After about 30 users the DWM.exe crashes on the terminal server and the user gets a black screen. Windows Server 2019 is installed on a physical HPE Dl380 Gen10 server. The problem does not occur without a graphics card

@HMSSS were you able to solve the problem?

Regards
Hannes

Answer 5

I changed the group policy “Use the hardware default graphics adapter for all Remote Desktop Services sessions” back to “not configured” and it seems that the problem is solved. All our more than 40 users can connect to the server while nevertheless the NVIDIA Card is still being used in these RDP sessions. The performance of 3D applications is as desired, there were no complains so far.
This raises the question about the purpose and possible advantages of this policy “Use the hardware default graphics adapter for all Remote Desktop Services sessions”.