Re: [rhn-users] Re: Low on RAM memory warnings

[Edson Manners <emanners realprod acns fsu edu>]

On Wed, 2003-07-30 at 12:29, snodx hotmail com wrote:
> Dear Edson Manners,
> 
> Thanx for your response
> 
> Edson Manners wrote:
> 
> >You may have done too much work in this case. I simply use the 'top'
> >command. If, under normal circumstances, you ar using swap memory then I
> >usually think it it time to upgrade. You know that you really need to
> >upgrade if you run top right after a reboot with only your default
> >programs and services running and you're using swap
> 
> Now that the interesting concept of swap has been introduced here is
> some additional info of my system:
> 
> The swap memory is set to 1285192 Kb which is 1255 MB approx
> 
The rule of thumb is that swap should be twcie your physical RAM. In
your case your swap should be 256MB. It doesnt hurt to have more
though(IMHO). So that should not be a problem for you.

> Is this the correct/appropriate size for a 128 MB RAM machine? If not
> how can I alter the swap size?
> 
> I checked out the output of 'top' The SWAP field is showing that a process
> called 'X' is using 64 MB of Swap and gnome-terminal is using 4 MB of Swap

Well my X uses 28MB and gnome-terminal uses 11MB. I have come to expect
this while running X with either gnome or KDE. My solution to you is to
get at least 512MB for your system if your gonna run X. More experienced
users are welcome to chime in and correct me where correction is needed.
> 
> So since SWAP is not showing zero in some cases is it time for an upgrade?
> Or is the case that its OK for processes to use 64 MB + 4 MB of swap size
> out of 1255 MB? Is there a benchmark, a kind of threshold, that this percentage
> of swap size is allowed, above this a RAM upgrade is required?

Well as long as your system doesnt seem too slow you dont HAVE to
upgrade. The problem with SWAP is that it acts as virtual RAM but
instead of being on a chip its on the hard drive which is a few thousand
times slower than physical RAM. In short, whenever you use swap your
processes which are using SWAP get slowed down noticeably.
> 
> Sorry for keeping you engaged.
> 
No need to apologize. I like answering the easy ones.
> Eagerly awaiting responses.
> 
> SNODX
> 
> 
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-- 
Edson Manners <emanners realprod acns fsu edu>
Florida State University