Windows Server 2016 shuts down unexpectedly

Question

Hello,

we have a problem with two of our many Windows Server 2016 virtual servers, which go off at random interval. This is happening for a very long time (months) and sometimes it is just 1-2 times in a month, but sometimes it happens more than 10 times.

In the event log there is an Information event at the time servers go off:

"

User32, eventid 1074

The process C:\WIndows\system32\winlogon.exe (serveri_name) has initiated the power off of computer server-name on behalf of user NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM for the following reason: No title for this reason could be found

Reason Code: 0x500ff

Shutdown Type: power off

Comment:

"

We have looked for any correlating events but did not find any clue as to why these power offs occur.

Other virtual servers running on the same physical hardware don't have this problem.

Everything is updated and on supported versions. Windows servers all have the latest updates.

Answer 1

Hello,

The event ID 1074 with reason code 0x500ff typically indicates that the shutdown is initiated by the system, often due to a software or driver problem. Here are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot this issue:

Check Power Settings: Ensure that the power settings on the affected servers are configured correctly. Make sure they are not set to shut down or hibernate after a period of inactivity.

Update Drivers and Firmware: Verify that all drivers and firmware associated with the virtual environment (both on the host and guest virtual machines) are up to date. This includes network drivers, storage drivers, and any other relevant components.

Run Disk Check: Perform a disk check on the affected servers to ensure that the hard drives are healthy and error-free.

Review Event Logs: Look closely at the application and system logs for any error messages or warnings that occur around the same time as the shutdowns. This might provide more clues about the root cause.

Monitor Resource Usage: High resource usage or resource contention could also cause unexpected shutdowns. Monitor CPU, memory, and disk usage to see if there are any spikes or patterns that correlate with the shutdowns.

Best Regards,

Hania Lian

============================================

If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.