SQL Cluster, memory limits with 2 instances

  • Hi,

    I have a SQL 2005 Cluster with 32GB of RAM running 2 instances. One is Enterprise (64bit) and the other is Standard (64bit).

    I want to place memory limits to guarantee the OS gets 4GB of RAM. Am I correct in thinking that if I limit both instances to 28GB, that would still not guarantee 4GB RAM for the OS, because instanceA could have 28GB and instanceB could grab the other 4?

    The average usage of RAM by both instances is about 20GB for instanceA and about 10GB for instanceB, but both instances have at some point taken > 30GB so I am reluctant to limit them by too much lower than 28.

    What would you guys recommend?

    Thanks,

    Bodsda

  • The average usage of RAM by both instances is about 20GB for instanceA and about 10GB for instanceB, but both instances have at some point taken > 30GB so I am reluctant to limit them by too much lower than 28.

    You will need either add more memory, and set maximum for each instance, or investigate why the memory consumption is high, and try to bring it down.

    leaving your OS with only 2GB is a bit risky and would not recommend it.

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  • Henrico Bekker (1/13/2011)


    The average usage of RAM by both instances is about 20GB for instanceA and about 10GB for instanceB, but both instances have at some point taken > 30GB so I am reluctant to limit them by too much lower than 28.

    You will need either add more memory, and set maximum for each instance, or investigate why the memory consumption is high, and try to bring it down.

    leaving your OS with only 2GB is a bit risky and would not recommend it.

    Adding more RAM is probably going to be a difficult task. The server has been running without a major issue for a fair few years, and as its clustered, we would need twice as much RAM. I would have a hard time explaining the benefits to management for that.

    What options do I have for working out how much RAM SQL actually needs?

    Thanks,

    Bodsda

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