Hello Donald,
I'm new to mysql so if someone more experienced comes go with them.
From the manual under the innodb_buffer_pool_size system variable section and the other ones associated to it.
Buffer pool size must always be equal to or a multiple of innodb_buffer_pool_chunk_size * innodb_buffer_pool_instances. If you alter the buffer pool size to a value that is not equal to or a multiple of innodb_buffer_pool_chunk_size * innodb_buffer_pool_instances, buffer pool size is automatically adjusted to a value that is equal to or a multiple of innodb_buffer_pool_chunk_size * innodb_buffer_pool_instances.
based on your ini files for the given variables its all the defaults so innodb_buffer_pool_chunk_size (i dont see it in the file so ill assume its using the default) and innodb_buffer_pool_size are both 128MB so the defaults are being used.
innodb_buffer_pool_instances=8
Default Value (Other) 8 (or 1 if innodb_buffer_pool_size < 1GB)
This option only takes effect when setting innodb_buffer_pool_size to 1GB or more. The total buffer pool size is divided among all the buffer pools. For best efficiency, specify a combination of innodb_buffer_pool_instances and innodb_buffer_pool_size so that each buffer pool instance is at least 1GB.
since the buffer pool size is not greater than 1GB this setting might not be being used so the buffer pool is not being divided so its just one pool.
You generally want your buffer pool using 50 to 80% of your systems memory if its a dedicated server that runs only mysql.
example settings of these three variables the numbers will change based on you servers specs.
what your server is running right now most likely
innodb_buffer_pool_size=128M
innodb_buffer_pool_instances=1
innodb_buffer_pool_chunk_size=128M
this setting the buffer pool is equal to innodb_buffer_pool_chunk_size * innodb_buffer_pool_instances
innodb_buffer_pool_size=10gb
innodb_buffer_pool_instances=8
innodb_buffer_pool_chunk_size=1.25gb
this setting the buffer pool is a multiple to innodb_buffer_pool_chunk_size * innodb_buffer_pool_instances if im getting the math right it would be a multiple of 2
innodb_buffer_pool_size=20gb
innodb_buffer_pool_instances=8
innodb_buffer_pool_chunk_size=1.25gb
if you have a version of mysql you could look into the innodb-dedicated-server which automatically configures the buffer pool.
https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/8.0/en/innodb-dedicated-server.html
what does you error log say about not restarting you might want to paste that so i or some one else can see it.
hopes this helps
Zach Ellis