May 11, 2003 at 1:43 am
We use Win 2K Standard edition, Sql 2K Standard Edition on our servers. Recently, the network guys have pumped up the machines to 4GB of RAM.
I though I read that of this RAM only 2GB will be used for apps and 2GB is taken by the system. My question is: given our software is there any point to having 4GB (vs 2GB) or RAM on a machine? I also remember reading about a /3GB switch for boot.ini and AWE adressing but I don't know if any of that applies to us.
TIA,
Bill
May 11, 2003 at 6:26 am
Since you are on Windows 2000 Server (not Advanced Server), the following article applies:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;291988
Key part of the article:
quote:
When the /3GB switch is used with Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server, or Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition, the kernel components are loaded into the memory space by using the 4 GB RAM Tuning feature in the same way as they load in Windows 2000 Advanced Server, Windows 2000 Datacenter Server, Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition, or Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition. This functionality allows device-driver developers to test their drivers in this configuration without having to install Windows 2000 Advanced Server, Windows 2000 Datacenter Server, Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition, or Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition. The user-mode memory space is still limited to 2 GB.
K. Brian Kelley
http://www.truthsolutions.com/
Author: Start to Finish Guide to SQL Server Performance Monitoring
http://www.netimpress.com/shop/product.asp?ProductID=NI-SQL1
K. Brian Kelley
@kbriankelley
May 11, 2003 at 11:13 am
Thanks, Brian.
Next question is that even though our user apps cannot access more than 2GB (because we use Win 2K\Sql 2K Standard edition) can the OS\SQL systems use this extra RAM to their advantage? In other words, is there any value to adding more than 2GB of RAM to our server? Buffering? Caching? Or is it just a waste of RAM.
TIA,
Bill
May 11, 2003 at 2:14 pm
Typically the OS is going to want to grab up to 2GB of RAM. However, with Advanced Server, if you have 4 GB, you can use the 3 GB switch to force it down to 1 GB only. So the OS will be able to use the extra RAM. Also, if the box isn't dedicated (other apps run on it), the apps can use the extra RAM without stealing from SQL Server.
K. Brian Kelley
http://www.truthsolutions.com/
Author: Start to Finish Guide to SQL Server Performance Monitoring
http://www.netimpress.com/shop/product.asp?ProductID=NI-SQL1
K. Brian Kelley
@kbriankelley
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