Reducing Windows Server 2012 R2 Server Manager CPU usage

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In large environments where you use Server Manager, by default it polls the servers you’ve added quite frequently. Increasing this data refresh interval and reducing the Event Log time frame drastically reduces the CPU load created by Server Manager. In the scenario I used, I’m managing approx. 300 servers without issue.

Configuration

Data Refresh

  • Launch Server Manager
  • Click on Manage > Server Manager Properties

  • Check the box for Specify the Server Manager data refresh period (in minutes)
  • Set the time to 20 minutes and click on OK

Event Logs

  • Launch Server Manager
  • Click on Dashboard > All Servers

  • Under the Events section click on Tasks > Configure Event Data

  • On the Configure Events Data screen set:
    • Show events with these severity levels to Critical, Error and Warning.
    • Get events that have occurred within the past: Custom
    • Specify a time period in hours or days: 12 Hours
    • Get events from the following event log files: Application, System.