High CPU Usage When Running Dell Encryption

Affected Products:

• Dell Encryption

Affected Versions:

• v10.10
• v11.0
• v11.1

Affected Operating Systems:

• Windows

The System process is a container for drivers to run their threads in a kernel mode context. When running Dell Encryption file or folder encryption the FFE driver threads load under the System process. Occasionally the System process consumes CPU time, resulting in high CPU usage. The steps below show how to confirm that Dell Encryption is the cause of the high CPU usage in system process.

Customers may observe high CPU usage (12-25%) in the system process on computers running Dell Encryption.

1. Download Process Explorer from Process Explorer
2. Extract the contents of the .zip file and run procexp.exe.
3. Locate the System process.
   

If the System process is showing high CPU usage, follow the steps below:

1. Double-click to open the properties window.
2. Click the Threads tab.

If there is a thread showing high CPU utilization with an address beginning with, CmgFFE.sys, this matches the issue that customers reported.

This issue is resolved in 11.3.0 and later versions of Dell Encryption, available at: https://www.dell.com/support/home/product-support/product/dell-data-protection-encryption/drivers

To contact support, reference Dell Data Security International Support Phone Numbers.
Go to TechDirect to generate a technical support request online.
For additional insights and resources, join the Dell Security Community Forum.