Memory and Standard Edition

  • I have always used Enterprise Edition so never had to be concerned with the memory restrictions of Standard Edition.  I've read where memory is limitted to 2GB for Standard Edition, but I encountered a server today containing over 3GB of memory.  How is that possible?  Is the Microsoft documentation incorrect?

    Thanks,  Dave

  • Windows 2000 Server will support up to 4 gigs and 8 if it's Advanced Server.  Are you sure the 3 gigs are available to SQL Server though, and that it's Standard Edition?  If so, it's a neat trick and I'd like to learn how to do it. 

    My hovercraft is full of eels.

  • I just looked at properties again and it lists SQL Server Standard Edition.  Under the memory tab is listed 3712 as the maximum memory, but the max memory configuration setting indicates 3072.  Perhaps the run_value of 3072 can go higher then 2GB, but the actual consumed memory will never go higher then 2GB.  I don't know the answer.

    Dave

  • Since it's 'standard edition' I believe that it will only be able to use 2 Gb. In actuality the maximun memory used is around 1.8 Gb. If you want to use more than 2 Gb then you have to have enterprise edition and also use the /3Gb switch in the boot.ini file (this is not the only way to use more memory however). The you will actually use about 2.7 Gb of memory.

    RegardsRudy KomacsarSenior Database Administrator"Ave Caesar! - Morituri te salutamus."

  • Standard will use no more than 2GB, regardless of OS

    Enterprise can use upto 64GB, limited by OS

    KB316749  http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;316749

    states that when a server has 2+GB RAM then it will use available RAM less 384MB roughly.

    Obviously, this depends on SQL Server version, /3GB, AWE, PAE etc for more than 3GB

    You can observe this - SQL settles to using around this amount over time.

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