Memory Issue

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ron Gallimore
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Ron Gallimore

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We have a 2003 Server that is being used as a file and print server. It is
also running our Panda antivirus, WSUS, and BackupExec. The machine is
running out of memory on a weekly basis and requires a reboot after it
freezes. When I rebooted it on Wednesday it said it was only using about 750
MB of RAM, according to Task Manager. Right now (5 days later) it is over
2,150 MB. The machine has 2 GB installed. Can somebody tell me where to
begin?

Thanks,
Ron
 
Re: Memory Issue

Sounds like something is memory leaking. You can use Task Manager and or
Performance Monitor to see what is consuming the mem/ cpu. A consistently
positive "Mem Delta" value may indicates a memory leak. Possibly take a
screen shot after a restart then compare the mem consumption the next day or
so.

Task manager|Processes|View|Select Columns
Here you can add the 'Mem Delta' column.

This tool may also help you.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...20-8c9d-46b9-a9a5-9bffcd237da2&displaylang=en



--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect


"Ron Gallimore" wrote:
> We have a 2003 Server that is being used as a file and print server. It
> is
> also running our Panda antivirus, WSUS, and BackupExec. The machine is
> running out of memory on a weekly basis and requires a reboot after it
> freezes. When I rebooted it on Wednesday it said it was only using about
> 750
> MB of RAM, according to Task Manager. Right now (5 days later) it is over
> 2,150 MB. The machine has 2 GB installed. Can somebody tell me where to
> begin?
>
> Thanks,
> Ron
 
Re: Memory Issue

>We have a 2003 Server that is being used as a file and print server. It is
>also running our Panda antivirus, WSUS, and BackupExec. The machine is
>running out of memory on a weekly basis and requires a reboot after it
>freezes. When I rebooted it on Wednesday it said it was only using about 750
>MB of RAM, according to Task Manager. Right now (5 days later) it is over
>2,150 MB. The machine has 2 GB installed. Can somebody tell me where to
>begin?
>
>Thanks,
>Ron

Are you already on SP2? It almost sounds like a memory leak to me.
What do you have the swapfile set to be? Can you see which app
specifically is consuming all the RAM? Have you by chance done a
before and after comparison of task manager after you've rebooted and
then when you see the RAM gobbled up?

- Thee Chicago Wolf
 
Re: Memory Issue

As with previous posts I think somethings eating your ram.
Might I suggest replacing your Task Manager with Process explorer
www.sysinternals.com?
It is much more powerful and it's free.
 
Re: Memory Issue

>As with previous posts I think somethings eating your ram.
>Might I suggest replacing your Task Manager with Process explorer
>www.sysinternals.com?
>It is much more powerful and it's free.

Process Explorer, while nice, won't tell him what *is* leaking or
consuming RAM. It will only show what *has* consumed RAM.

- Thee Chicago Wolf
 
Re: Memory Issue

It is running SP2 and the swap file is now set to allow the system to control
it. It was set by the previous administrator who left in July. I just came
on board last month. I will be doing a comparison over the next few days to
attempt to see what is using all of the RAM. I have noticed some massive
Virtual RAM Sizes but I do not know enough about Virtual RAM to see if there
is a problem.

Is Process Explorer better to use for this or should I keep using Task
Manager?

Thanks,
Ron

"Thee Chicago Wolf" wrote:

> >We have a 2003 Server that is being used as a file and print server. It is
> >also running our Panda antivirus, WSUS, and BackupExec. The machine is
> >running out of memory on a weekly basis and requires a reboot after it
> >freezes. When I rebooted it on Wednesday it said it was only using about 750
> >MB of RAM, according to Task Manager. Right now (5 days later) it is over
> >2,150 MB. The machine has 2 GB installed. Can somebody tell me where to
> >begin?
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Ron
>
> Are you already on SP2? It almost sounds like a memory leak to me.
> What do you have the swapfile set to be? Can you see which app
> specifically is consuming all the RAM? Have you by chance done a
> before and after comparison of task manager after you've rebooted and
> then when you see the RAM gobbled up?
>
> - Thee Chicago Wolf
>
 
Re: Memory Issue

>It is running SP2 and the swap file is now set to allow the system to control
>it. It was set by the previous administrator who left in July. I just came
>on board last month. I will be doing a comparison over the next few days to
>attempt to see what is using all of the RAM. I have noticed some massive
>Virtual RAM Sizes but I do not know enough about Virtual RAM to see if there
>is a problem.
>
>Is Process Explorer better to use for this or should I keep using Task
>Manager?

Ron,

Setting swap management to System isn't a bad idea but a bit out of
the conventions of Microsoft's recommendations. I don't think it'll
hurt anything so maybe leave it for now as it is not likely a culprit.
Certainly doing a screen grab of a freshly rebooted server and seeing
what's in task manager would be a place to start. Compare it day by
day and it should at least give you an idea of any culprit
applications. Additionally, I'd also search the KB in the meantime for
the term memory leak and server 2003 to see about post SP2 hotfixes
that might be worth exploring if it can't be traced back to a specific
app or service / process.

Process Explorer isn't going to show you what's gobbling up RAM or if
there's a leak. Maybe even audit the apps installed on the server and
go out and see if there are patches available and patch things up to
current.

I would also recommend what one of the other folks did with the Server
2003 Performance Advisor. Not gonna solve all your problems but is a
nifty tool for troubleshooting.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...20-8c9d-46b9-a9a5-9bffcd237da2&displaylang=en

- Thee Chicago Wolf
 
Re: Memory Issue

>We have a 2003 Server that is being used as a file and print server. It is
>also running our Panda antivirus, WSUS, and BackupExec. The machine is
>running out of memory on a weekly basis and requires a reboot after it
>freezes. When I rebooted it on Wednesday it said it was only using about 750
>MB of RAM, according to Task Manager. Right now (5 days later) it is over
>2,150 MB. The machine has 2 GB installed. Can somebody tell me where to
>begin?
>
>Thanks,
>Ron

You'd also best try and use Performance Monitor and set up some mem
and paging monitoring. Here's a simple starter:
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Windows-Server-2003-Performance-Tuning.html

- Thee Chicago Wolf
 
RE: Memory Issue

It looks like is it related to WSUS. The sqlservr.exe (MICROSOFT##SSEE) grew
Mem Usage grew from 173 MB to 349 MB and VM Size grew from 188 MB to 362 MB
overnight. The w3wp.exe grew from 101 MB to 147 MB and VM Size grew from 92
MB to 135 MB. The rest of the services were basically flat. Any suggestion?

Ron


"Ron Gallimore" wrote:

> We have a 2003 Server that is being used as a file and print server. It is
> also running our Panda antivirus, WSUS, and BackupExec. The machine is
> running out of memory on a weekly basis and requires a reboot after it
> freezes. When I rebooted it on Wednesday it said it was only using about 750
> MB of RAM, according to Task Manager. Right now (5 days later) it is over
> 2,150 MB. The machine has 2 GB installed. Can somebody tell me where to
> begin?
>
> Thanks,
> Ron
 
Re: Memory Issue

You may want to post in the
microsoft.public.windows.server.update_services newsgroup.

--

Regards,
Hank Arnold
Microsoft MVP
Windows Server - Directory Services

Ron Gallimore wrote:
> It looks like is it related to WSUS. The sqlservr.exe (MICROSOFT##SSEE) grew
> Mem Usage grew from 173 MB to 349 MB and VM Size grew from 188 MB to 362 MB
> overnight. The w3wp.exe grew from 101 MB to 147 MB and VM Size grew from 92
> MB to 135 MB. The rest of the services were basically flat. Any suggestion?
>
> Ron
>
>
> "Ron Gallimore" wrote:
>
>> We have a 2003 Server that is being used as a file and print server. It is
>> also running our Panda antivirus, WSUS, and BackupExec. The machine is
>> running out of memory on a weekly basis and requires a reboot after it
>> freezes. When I rebooted it on Wednesday it said it was only using about 750
>> MB of RAM, according to Task Manager. Right now (5 days later) it is over
>> 2,150 MB. The machine has 2 GB installed. Can somebody tell me where to
>> begin?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Ron

You may want to post in the
microsoft.public.windows.server.update_services newsgroup.

--

Regards,
Hank Arnold
Microsoft MVP
Windows Server - Directory Services
 
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