Tableau Server is a resource-intensive application that requires significant CPU, memory, and I/O resources to function optimally. Running additional software on the same machine, particularly applications like antivirus, backup agents, or other server-grade software, creates resource contention. This competition for system resources can lead to severe performance degradation, instability, and unpredictable behavior for Tableau Server. Official Tableau deployment guidelines strongly recommend installing Tableau Server on a dedicated computer that meets or exceeds the minimum hardware requirements to ensure reliability and performance.

B. Separating the Backgrounder and VizQL processes to different machines: This is a recommended scaling strategy for multi-node deployments to improve performance, not a cause of problems.

C. Configuring the server to use a static IP address: This is a best practice and often a requirement for stable client connections and reliable server operation.

D. Using a non-default installation path: Tableau Server fully supports installation to a non-default directory; this action itself does not cause operational issues.

1. Tableau Server Help, "Before you install...", Section: "General Installation Guidelines for Tableau Server": This official documentation explicitly states, "For best performance, we recommend you install Tableau Server on a dedicated computer... For example, running other applications, such as anti-virus software or other databases, on the same computer as Tableau Server can degrade performance." This directly supports option A as the most likely cause of problems.

2. Tableau Server Help, "Performance Tuning", Section: "General performance guidelines": This section details how Tableau Server processes consume resources and emphasizes avoiding resource contention. It notes, "Contention for resources such as CPU, memory, and I/O can cause slower performance." This reinforces the reasoning behind why running other software is problematic.

3. Tableau Server Help, "Distributed and High Availability Tableau Server Installations", Section: "Example: Two-Node Installation": This documentation provides examples of separating processes like the Backgrounder and VizQL onto different nodes (machines) to balance the server load and improve performance, directly contradicting option B as a problem.