Page Life versus Buffer Cache

  • I've got a 2000 SP4 Sql Server (32 bit) sitting on top of Win 2003 SP2 (64 bit) and something does not make sense. Generally, when I look at Perf Mon throughout the day on this server, I see a good Buffer Cache Hit Ratio, i.e. around 99%, but a Page Life Expectancy < 150. Doesn't the former mean we have plenty of memory and the latter mean we don't have enough memory? Which counter do I trust? Shouldn't I be seeing lower Buffer Cache Hit Ratio numbers in, say, the 90's and 80's with that low of Page Life Expectancy??

  • You need to monitor both the counters during the same time period. Also, we need to know total memory on box, memory set aside for sql server.

    MJ

  • Keep in mind also that the buffer cache hit rate is cummulative from the last restart of the SQL service. PLE consistantly less than 300 is a sign of memory pressure.

    John Rowan

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  • Hi,

    We want to set max memory size to 12GB out of 16 GB RAM. I set the max memory 12 GB and restart the server, immediately I can see that the procudre cache is down to 68% in monitoring tool?

    So as you said buffer cache is cumulative, the procedure cash aslo cumulative?

    After restarting the service, in general how the produdure cash value will be?

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