64bit SQLServer 2005 on 64bit Windows 2003 Server and AWE activated

• MrAkki

  SSCrazy

  Points: 2574

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  September 7, 2009 at 4:07 am

  #204347

  Hi there,

  I have a SQL 2005 Server with 8 Processors and 12 GB RAM.

  It's a 64bit Version on a 64bit Windows 2003 Server.

  Now, I noticed that in the server properties the switch 'Use AWE to allocate memory' is activated :w00t:

  I thought it can not be used in a 64bit environment.

  Does it have any side effects? Does the SQL Server use AWE to allocate the memory, even that it is not needed?

  Is it possible to turn it of in a productive environment without any problems or restart? Does it make any difference in the performance of the databases?

  Please help.

• Elliott Whitlow

  SSC Guru

  Points: 102402

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  September 7, 2009 at 6:32 am

  #1050083

  MS says its ignored:

  http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187499.aspx

  But:

  http://blogs.msdn.com/slavao/archive/2005/04/29/413425.aspx

  CEWII

• Marcin Gol

  Hall of Fame

  Points: 3314

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  September 7, 2009 at 12:01 pm

  #1050193

  1) which edition of sql you are running ?

  2) maybe you should read this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918483/en-us

  and you may need this:

  http://sqlblog.com/blogs/aaron_bertrand/archive/2009/06/20/sql-server-2005-sp3-cumulative-update-4-is-available.aspx

  there are some problems with swaping sql's memory. I recommend to use lock pages (awe) in SQL x64.