Tables in memory

  • Is there a posibility to know if a table stays in memory and when it was loaded?

    Are big tables fully loaded into memory?

    Thanks for help, Jan

  • Whether or not data stays in memory is largely a function of the size of your memory and how volatile your cache is. Tables won't stay in memory unless they're regularly being referenced, and there's enough room to store them there. The main determination for what is being referenced in memory and what's being referenced from the disk are the performance counters that monitor memory and disk I/O.

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

    Author of:
    SQL Server Execution Plans
    SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

  • If you search SQL 2005 dbcc memusage (an old dbcc function) you can find some functions that will give you an idea if your table is in cache. They are not perfect however and your mileage may vary.

  • You can find cache size for the objects with this query:

    SELECT db_name(database_id) dbname,page_type,

    SUM(CASE WHEN ([is_modified] = 1) THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) AS DirtyPageCount,

    SUM(CASE WHEN ([is_modified] = 1) THEN 0 ELSE 1 END) AS CleanPageCount ,

    count(*)AS cached_pages_count ,count(1) * 8/1024 cache_size_mb

    ,name ,index_id

    FROM sys.dm_os_buffer_descriptors AS bd

    INNER JOIN

    (

    SELECT object_name(object_id) AS name

    ,index_id ,allocation_unit_id

    FROM sys.allocation_units AS au

    INNER JOIN sys.partitions AS p

    ON au.container_id = p.hobt_id

    AND (au.type = 1 OR au.type = 3)

    UNION ALL

    SELECT object_name(object_id) AS name

    ,index_id, allocation_unit_id

    FROM sys.allocation_units AS au

    INNER JOIN sys.partitions AS p

    ON au.container_id = p.partition_id

    AND au.type = 2

    ) AS obj

    ON bd.allocation_unit_id = obj.allocation_unit_id

    WHERE database_id = db_id()

    GROUP BY name, index_id ,db_name(database_id),page_type

    ORDER BY cached_pages_count DESC;

  • magasvs (2/17/2011)


    You can find cache size for the objects with this query:

    Nice! Did you write this or did you find it somewhere? I started writing something like this last night after I read this post but didn't get around to finishing it. I'll be checking this out more later. Thanks!

    David

    @SQLTentmaker

    “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose” - Jim Elliot

  • Nice script. I hadn't thought of that option when I first saw this post. I was venturing down the path of a hexeditor to examine memory and wanted to test it first.

    Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
    _______________________________________________
    I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
    SQL RNNR
    Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
    Learn Extended Events

  • I had only thought of this approach due to some tempdb analysis that I was doing and I found something similar on a blog post from SQL Soldier. I can't find that blog post now but there was a similar script in the comments using sys.dm_os_buffer_descriptors which made me think that we could get a total count of pages in memory for an object.

    Regardless, very handy information.

    David

    @SQLTentmaker

    “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose” - Jim Elliot

  • Agreed - handy information indeed. If you google for dbcc memusage, I was able to find a few more scripts similar to what you created.

    Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
    _______________________________________________
    I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
    SQL RNNR
    Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
    Learn Extended Events

  • Interesting query for objects sizes!

    Best,
    Kevin G. Boles
    SQL Server Consultant
    SQL MVP 2007-2012
    TheSQLGuru on googles mail service

  • David Benoit (2/17/2011)


    magasvs (2/17/2011)


    You can find cache size for the objects with this query:

    Nice! Did you write this or did you find it somewhere? I started writing something like this last night after I read this post but didn't get around to finishing it. I'll be checking this out more later. Thanks!

    I found it somewhere and kept it in my scripts library, but unfortunately don't remember where I found it. Next time I'll add source to the script's comments.

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