WMI Provider Host High CPU Usage Windows Server 2012 R2

Hello Dev, if you’re reading this article, then you probably have encountered the issue of high CPU usage caused by the WMI Provider Host on your Windows Server 2012 R2. This issue can be quite frustrating, especially if you’re running a mission-critical application on the server. In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about the WMI Provider Host, why it consumes high CPU resources, and how you can fix this issue. So, let’s get started!

What is WMI Provider Host?

The WMI Provider Host is a Windows operating system component that provides a standardized way for different software components to interact with the operating system. It is responsible for collecting data from the system and providing it to applications, tools, and scripts that require it. The WMI Provider Host runs as a background service and is available on all modern Windows operating systems, including Windows Server 2012 R2.

How Does WMI Provider Host Work?

The WMI Provider Host works by providing a set of interfaces that different software components can use to query the operating system for information. These interfaces are known as WMI classes and contain information about various aspects of the system, such as hardware, software, networking, and more. When an application or tool needs to access system information, it sends a request to the WMI Provider Host, which then retrieves the requested information and returns it to the application or tool.

While the WMI Provider Host plays a critical role in the Windows operating system, it can sometimes cause high CPU usage on Windows Server 2012 R2, which we’ll discuss next.

Why Does WMI Provider Host Consume High CPU Resources on Windows Server 2012 R2?

There are several reasons why the WMI Provider Host might consume high CPU resources on Windows Server 2012 R2. Some of the most common causes of this issue include:

Causes of High CPU Usage by WMI Provider Host
Malware infection
Corrupt WMI repository
Too many WMI queries or events
Outdated or incorrect WMI drivers
Hardware issues with the server

How to Identify High CPU Usage by WMI Provider Host on Windows Server 2012 R2?

Before we discuss how to fix high CPU usage caused by the WMI Provider Host, it’s essential to identify the issue first. Here are some of the ways to check if the WMI Provider Host is causing high CPU usage on your Windows Server 2012 R2:

Task Manager

You can use the Task Manager to check the CPU usage of various processes running on your server, including the WMI Provider Host. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Press the Ctrl+Alt+Delete keys on your keyboard.
2. Select Task Manager from the list of options.
3. Click on the Processes tab.
4. Look for the WmiPrvSE.exe process in the list of processes.
5. If the CPU usage of this process is high, then the WMI Provider Host might be causing the issue.

Performance Monitor

You can also use the Performance Monitor to monitor the CPU usage of the WMI Provider Host in real-time. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “perfmon” and press Enter.
3. Select Performance Monitor from the left-hand panel.
4. Click on the “+” icon in the toolbar to add a new counter.
5. Select “Process” from the list of available counters.
6. Select the WmiPrvSE.exe process from the list of processes.
7. Click on the “Add” button.
8. Click on the “OK” button.
9. Observe the CPU usage of the WmiPrvSE.exe process in real-time.

How to Fix High CPU Usage by WMI Provider Host on Windows Server 2012 R2?

Now that you have identified the issue and know the causes of high CPU usage by the WMI Provider Host, let’s discuss how to fix the issue. Here are some of the most effective ways to fix high CPU usage caused by the WMI Provider Host on Windows Server 2012 R2:

Run Antivirus Scan

Malware infections can cause high CPU usage on your server, and the WMI Provider Host might be a victim of such an infection. Therefore, the first thing you should do is run an antivirus scan on your server to remove any malware infections. You can use any antivirus software that is compatible with Windows Server 2012 R2 to do so.

Repair WMI Repository

The WMI repository is a database that contains information about various WMI classes and their properties. If this repository gets corrupted, it can cause high CPU usage by the WMI Provider Host. Therefore, you can repair the WMI repository to fix this issue. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “cmd” and press Enter.
3. Type “winmgmt /resetrepository” in the command prompt.
4. Press Enter.
5. Restart your server.

Limit WMI Quotas

If you have too many WMI queries or events running on your server, it can cause high CPU usage by the WMI Provider Host. Therefore, you can limit the number of WMI queries and events to fix this issue. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “wbemtest” and press Enter.
3. Click on the “Connect” button.
4. Type “root\cimv2” in the Namespace field.
5. Click on the “Connect” button.
6. Click on the “Query” button.
7. Type “SELECT * FROM __EventProviderRegistration” in the Query field.
8. Click on the “Apply” button.
9. Click on the “Advanced” button.
10. Click on the “Show” button next to “Quotas”.
11. Set the Maximum Event Delivery Queue Size to a lower value, such as 50.
12. Click on the “OK” button.
13. Click on the “Save As” button to save the changes.
14. Restart your server.

Update or Reinstall WMI Drivers

Outdated or incorrect WMI drivers can cause high CPU usage by the WMI Provider Host. Therefore, you can update or reinstall the WMI drivers to fix this issue. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “devmgmt.msc” and press Enter.
3. Expand the “System Devices” category.
4. Right-click on the “Microsoft UAA Bus Driver for High Definition Audio” or “Intel Management Engine Interface” driver.
5. Click on “Update Driver” or “Uninstall Device”.
6. Restart your server.

Check Hardware Issues

If none of the above solutions work, then the issue might be caused by hardware issues with your server, such as faulty RAM or CPU. Therefore, you should check your hardware components and replace any faulty ones if necessary.

FAQs

Q1. What is WMI?

WMI stands for “Windows Management Instrumentation”. It is a set of interfaces that allow software components to interact with the Windows operating system and retrieve information about various system resources.

Q2. Is WMI Provider Host a Virus?

No, the WMI Provider Host is not a virus. It is a legitimate Windows operating system component that provides a standardized way for different software components to interact with the operating system.

Q3. How do I Disable WMI on Windows Server 2012 R2?

You can disable WMI on Windows Server 2012 R2 by following these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “services.msc” and press Enter.
3. Locate the “Windows Management Instrumentation” service.
4. Right-click on it and select “Properties”.
5. Select “Disabled” from the “Startup type” dropdown menu.
6. Click on the “Apply” button.
7. Restart your server.

Q4. Can I Uninstall WMI Provider Host?

No, you cannot uninstall the WMI Provider Host. It is a critical component of the Windows operating system, and removing it can cause problems with other software components that rely on it.

Q5. How Can I Monitor WMI Performance on Windows Server 2012 R2?

You can use the Performance Monitor to monitor the performance of WMI on Windows Server 2012 R2. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “perfmon” and press Enter.
3. Select Performance Monitor from the left-hand panel.
4. Click on the “+” icon in the toolbar to add a new counter.
5. Select “WMI Total Instances” from the list of available counters.
6. Select the specific WMI class you want to monitor from the list of instances.
7. Click on the “Add” button.
8. Click on the “OK” button.
9. Observe the performance of the selected WMI class in real-time.

That’s all for this article. We hope you found it helpful in resolving the high CPU usage issue caused by the WMI Provider Host on your Windows Server 2012 R2. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to let us know in the comments below.