Why does my remote console session disconnect from the virtual machine, especially when the contents on the virtual machine's screen change rapidly?

The most likely cause of this problem is poor data throughput from the virtual machine to your remote console session.

To fix this problem, try the following:

1. Check your network configuration for possible problems, such as a speed or duplex mismatch between the service console network adapter and the switch port to which it is connected.
    
2. One way to verify proper network settings and cabling is to check for a reasonable network packet collision rate in the service console. The following table lists baseline values:
    

   Status	Collisions
   OK	x < 0.5%</div>
   BUSY	0.5% < x < 5.0%
   CONCERN	5.0% < x

   
    
3. If you are connecting via a VPN, it's possible the VPN client is contributing to the problem. Try connecting with remote console from a system that is physically on the same local network as the ESX Server service console.
    
4. If the problem persists after you verify the network setup (cabling, speed, duplex) is OK, make the following changes:
    
   • For Windows guests, ensure that Hardware Acceleration is set to Full:
      
     1. Open the Display control panel (Start > Settings > Control Panel > Display).
         
     2. On the Settings tab, click Advanced.
         
     3. On the Troubleshooting tab, drag the Hardware acceleration slider all the way to Full.
         
   • Choose a lower display resolution and color depth in the guest operating system.
      
   • Configure the virtual display adapter hardware in the management interface to use a lower color depth.
      
   • If autonegotiation does not result in the optimal capability consistent with the characteristics of the COS network adapter and of the connected physical switch port, then manually set the speed and the duplex setting of the console COS network adapter and of the port to this optimal value.
      
   • Add the following settings to your virtual machine configuration file to disable the IPC buffer limit check. Doing this prevents or reduces remote console disconnects.
     
     mks.ipc.maxBufferedPackets = 0
     mks.ipc.maxBufferedBytes = 0
     svga.noOffscreen = TRUE
     
     Also in the virtual machine configuration file, find the line
     
     RemoteDisplay.depth = "16"
     
     Change this line to
     
     RemoteDisplay.depth = "8"
      
   • Use only the remote console application that comes with your version of ESX Server (not the remote console application from GSX Server or VirtualCenter). For more information, please see Knowledge Base article 1364 at http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1364.