It is using all CPU’s, you can actually see all but 2 CPU’s with ‘some’ usage on them.
In particuluar though it looks like 2 specific threads are busier, and are using a CPU each.
A lot of processes in RouterOS are not perfectly multi-threaded. Some processes when they get busy will only use 1 CPU core until it finishes, but rather than slow every other process down they have access to the other CPU’s. This looks normal. You might be best to look at what process is using this and we might be able to tell you why its so busy.
OK on the VMware 6.7
I use the free license which limits virtual machines to 8 CPUs.
Are you using the trial license or do you have an upgraded license that allows the ability to assign more than 8 CPUs to a virtual machine ?
My answer is still valid. I think you misunderstand CPU loads - you can never really perfectly balance processes among all CPU’s.
‘Ethernet’ could have multiple threads. Thats why you see it on multiple CPU’s, and on every CPU
‘Firewall’ could have multiple threads. Thats why you see it on multiple CPU’s, and on every CPU
A single thread cant be processed on more than one CPU.
Sometimes busier threads pop-up. It looks like by your screenshots its not always the same CPU core.
There is no solution to this - some processes may become more multi-threaded in the future (and with ROSv7 having newer kernel) but for now yes sometimes a thread will take up most of a CPU, all your other CPU’s are still doing work and sharing the load.
You can prove this point by taking CPU’s away and see how on average they all will rise to take care of the same workload.