Memory utilization is reaching more than 90% in sql server 2008

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Memory utilization is reaching more than 90% in sql server 2008

samihcl

Old Hand

Points: 304
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May 21, 2013 at 3:41 am

#394818

Dear All,
Last night onward my memory utilization is going beyond 90%.
We have sql server 2008 r2 with two node cluster.
we have not done any changes/modification
Pls suggest how to rectify this issue..its urgent.
Thanks in advance
Regards,

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

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Mike John SSCertifiable Points: 7216 More actions · Answer 1

SQL Server is designed to use as much memory as Windows will allow it, so unless you are experiencing problems elsewhere I would leave well alone.

You "may" need to restrict the memory SQL server is allowed to take depending what else is running on the server, but taking a lot of memory does not indicate a problem - it is expected. There are lots discussions on here about it.

Mike John

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 2

Normal, expected, documented behaviour. If SQL's using too much memory, you need to change the max server memory setting to tell it how much it may use.

Chapter 4: http://www.simple-talk.com/books/sql-books/troubleshooting-sql-server-a-guide-for-the-accidental-dba/

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

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samihcl Old Hand Points: 304 More actions · Answer 3

Thanks mike,

Pls let me know how much ram i can allocate to sql server??

we have 65 gb ram on node1 and node2.

Pls let me know what explanation i can give if client ask regarding more memory utilizaiton..

Pls elobrate your answer/suggestion with steps..

thanks again.

Regards,

Sam

Mike John SSCertifiable Points: 7216 More actions · Answer 4

I would have a read of the link Gail gave above. The others are not really answerable without knowing what else the server is running.

As for explaining to client - "it is doing what it is supposed to" would be a fair start.

Mike John

kevaburg SSCoach Points: 18131 More actions · Answer 5

samihcl (5/21/2013)
Dear All,
Last night onward my memory utilization is going beyond 90%.
We have sql server 2008 r2 with two node cluster.
we have not done any changes/modification
Pls suggest how to rectify this issue..its urgent.
Thanks in advance
Regards,

What is wrong with that? It could be using 99% of the allocated memory. All that means is that memory for the instance has been sensibly allocated.

Grant Fritchey SSC Guru Points: 398882 More actions · Answer 6

If you haven't set max memory, then, as has been noted, SQL Server will use all the memory it can. You can set max memory this way. Or, you can use a t-sql statement. If you set it for the instance, there's nothing else you have to do for the cluster. If you have more than one instance of course, you'll have set each individually. As to what you should set it to, that really depends on what else is running on the server, how many instances, how big you want each of them, etc.

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