Memory Allocation on Virtual Server

  • Guys downstairs just built a 2003 Enterprise Server 32bit with 8GB RAM which is Virtual.

    I was told to install SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition which from my understanding won't utilize the full amount of availabe memory the server has to offer. I have read that I need to enable AWE in SQL server, /PAE, and the /3GB flag in the boot.ini file. Is it okay to have both /3GB & /PAE flags at the same time?

    Does the fact that this is a VM change any other this? Thanks!

  • After these flags you can see full memory in your OS level ?

    If yes then enable the AWE and lock pages for the SQL Server Service Account and then restart the SQL Server service

    Define Max Memory parameter in sql server around 6 GB

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    Syed Jahanzaib Bin Hassan
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  • PAE is required ins case to address memory above 4GB. Rebuilding as 64-bit Windows would remove this option.

    With PAE enabled then you can make use of AWE within SQL Server.

    The 3GB switch is different. This increases the virtual address space that is available to the application up to 3 GB, and reduces the amount available to the system to between 1 and 2 GB.

    For applications that are memory-intensive, such as database management systems (DBMS), the use of a larger virtual address space can provide considerable performance and scalability benefits. However, the file cache, paged pool, and nonpaged pool are smaller, which can adversely affect applications with heavy networking or I/O. Therefore, you might want to test your application under load, and examine the performance counters to determine whether your application benefits from the larger address space.

  • Martin Cairney (6/9/2011)


    PAE is required ins case to address memory above 4GB. Rebuilding as 64-bit Windows would remove this option.

    With PAE enabled then you can make use of AWE within SQL Server.

    The 3GB switch is different. This increases the virtual address space that is available to the application up to 3 GB, and reduces the amount available to the system to between 1 and 2 GB.

    For applications that are memory-intensive, such as database management systems (DBMS), the use of a larger virtual address space can provide considerable performance and scalability benefits. However, the file cache, paged pool, and nonpaged pool are smaller, which can adversely affect applications with heavy networking or I/O. Therefore, you might want to test your application under load, and examine the performance counters to determine whether your application benefits from the larger address space.

    Outstanding! Thanks Martin. Just what I wanted to know.

  • 1) you do NOT want /PAE on with /3GB.

    2) why in the world is someone building a windows server 2003 box in this day and age?? it was a SUCK *** OS compared to win server 2008+.

    2) likewise, why in the world is someone building a 32bit server?

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

  • TheSQLGuru (6/9/2011)


    1) you do NOT want /PAE on with /3GB.

    Kevin,

    as I have not run into this situation, I am genuinely curious. What's the downside of running both at the same time?

    Brandie Tarvin, MCITP Database AdministratorLiveJournal Blog: http://brandietarvin.livejournal.com/[/url]On LinkedIn!, Google+, and Twitter.Freelance Writer: ShadowrunLatchkeys: Nevermore, Latchkeys: The Bootleg War, and Latchkeys: Roscoes in the Night are now available on Nook and Kindle.

  • Check out this FAQ:

    5. How do I configure SQL Server to use larger memory space over 2GB on a 32-bit server?

    http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sqldatabaseengine/thread/a11b132f-0329-4ffa-a715-962b2f82e87d

  • So it's just that it will cause SQL Server to not use all the physical memory, not that it will cause the Zombiepacolypse or something equally horrendous, right?

    Brandie Tarvin, MCITP Database AdministratorLiveJournal Blog: http://brandietarvin.livejournal.com/[/url]On LinkedIn!, Google+, and Twitter.Freelance Writer: ShadowrunLatchkeys: Nevermore, Latchkeys: The Bootleg War, and Latchkeys: Roscoes in the Night are now available on Nook and Kindle.

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