How much RAM Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition can use ?

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Peter

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Hi,

If we have 3GB of RAM in a Windows 2003 Server, we would like to know would
it be possible for us to make use all of them or we have to add switches
like /3G in the Boot.ini ? If it is the truth, we have to add this switch
in some of our servers.

This is because a fellow has mentioned that by default, Kernel and Operating
System uses 2GB
of that XGB of RAM.

Regards,
Peter
 
Re: How much RAM Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition can use ?

Hi Peter,

Read this, especially the part on "Processes and Address Spaces" ... http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555223

and then read this too.. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/e834e9c7-708c-43bf-b877-e14ae443ecbf.aspx

Hope this helps.
Coraleigh Miller


"Peter" <Peter@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:uwcgrsw%23HHA.4584@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
>
> If we have 3GB of RAM in a Windows 2003 Server, we would like to know would
> it be possible for us to make use all of them or we have to add switches
> like /3G in the Boot.ini ? If it is the truth, we have to add this switch
> in some of our servers.
>
> This is because a fellow has mentioned that by default, Kernel and Operating
> System uses 2GB
> of that XGB of RAM.
>
> Regards,
> Peter
>
>
 
Re: How much RAM Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition can use ?

Hello,

this fellow is right, but you can't directly use the "/3G". Applications
must be aware of it (having at least a tag in the image's executable). While
application like exchange take advantage of it, remind it stuck the system
in 1G. Depending on what is running on the server, that may break
performance instead of helping.

You need to provide more details

--
Cordialement,
Mathieu CHATEAU
http://lordoftheping.blogspot.com


"Peter" <Peter@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:uwcgrsw%23HHA.4584@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
>
> If we have 3GB of RAM in a Windows 2003 Server, we would like to know
> would it be possible for us to make use all of them or we have to add
> switches like /3G in the Boot.ini ? If it is the truth, we have to add
> this switch in some of our servers.
>
> This is because a fellow has mentioned that by default, Kernel and
> Operating System uses 2GB
> of that XGB of RAM.
>
> Regards,
> Peter
>
>
 
LRe: How much RAM Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition can use ?

LRe: How much RAM Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition can use ?

Dear all,

Thank you for your advice. The application we are using is SQL Server 2005.

If we have only 3GB of RAM, would it be a good idea not to use the /3G
switch ? From my understanding, SQL Sever will assume that there is 3GB of
RAM allocated to it and there will be contention with OS re RAM.

Regards,
Peter


"Mathieu CHATEAU" <gollum123@free.fr> wrote in message
news:u5e9H40%23HHA.1188@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Hello,
>
> this fellow is right, but you can't directly use the "/3G". Applications
> must be aware of it (having at least a tag in the image's executable).
> While application like exchange take advantage of it, remind it stuck the
> system in 1G. Depending on what is running on the server, that may break
> performance instead of helping.
>
> You need to provide more details
>
> --
> Cordialement,
> Mathieu CHATEAU
> http://lordoftheping.blogspot.com
>
>
> "Peter" <Peter@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:uwcgrsw%23HHA.4584@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> Hi,
>>
>> If we have 3GB of RAM in a Windows 2003 Server, we would like to know
>> would it be possible for us to make use all of them or we have to add
>> switches like /3G in the Boot.ini ? If it is the truth, we have to add
>> this switch in some of our servers.
>>
>> This is because a fellow has mentioned that by default, Kernel and
>> Operating System uses 2GB
>> of that XGB of RAM.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Peter
>>
>>
>
 
Re: How much RAM Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition can use ?

The fellow is is not exactly right, Mathieu. The Kernel mode memory
will use up to 2GB of "Virtual Address Space", it will not use for
itself 2GB "RAM" out of 3GB. Virtual Address Space and RAM are not the
same thing.

John

Mathieu CHATEAU wrote:
> Hello,
>
> this fellow is right, but you can't directly use the "/3G". Applications
> must be aware of it (having at least a tag in the image's executable).
> While application like exchange take advantage of it, remind it stuck
> the system in 1G. Depending on what is running on the server, that may
> break performance instead of helping.
>
> You need to provide more details
>
 
Re: LRe: How much RAM Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition can use?

Re: LRe: How much RAM Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition can use?

You are confusing RAM with Virtual Address Space, the two are not the same.

John

Peter wrote:

> Dear all,
>
> Thank you for your advice. The application we are using is SQL Server 2005.
>
> If we have only 3GB of RAM, would it be a good idea not to use the /3G
> switch ? From my understanding, SQL Sever will assume that there is 3GB of
> RAM allocated to it and there will be contention with OS re RAM.
>
> Regards,
> Peter
>
>
> "Mathieu CHATEAU" <gollum123@free.fr> wrote in message
> news:u5e9H40%23HHA.1188@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>
>>Hello,
>>
>>this fellow is right, but you can't directly use the "/3G". Applications
>>must be aware of it (having at least a tag in the image's executable).
>>While application like exchange take advantage of it, remind it stuck the
>>system in 1G. Depending on what is running on the server, that may break
>>performance instead of helping.
>>
>>You need to provide more details
>>
>>--
>>Cordialement,
>>Mathieu CHATEAU
>>http://lordoftheping.blogspot.com
>>
>>
>>"Peter" <Peter@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>news:uwcgrsw%23HHA.4584@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>
>>>Hi,
>>>
>>>If we have 3GB of RAM in a Windows 2003 Server, we would like to know
>>>would it be possible for us to make use all of them or we have to add
>>>switches like /3G in the Boot.ini ? If it is the truth, we have to add
>>>this switch in some of our servers.
>>>
>>>This is because a fellow has mentioned that by default, Kernel and
>>>Operating System uses 2GB
>>>of that XGB of RAM.
>>>
>>>Regards,
>>>Peter
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
 
Re: LRe: How much RAM Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition can use ?

Re: LRe: How much RAM Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition can use ?

Dear John,

Thank you for your advice. From the articles, my understanding is that even
though we have 2GB physical RAM and if SQL Server is installed, we still get
2 address spaces each of 2GB - One for the OS and one for the Application
(In this case, the SQL Server 2005) ?

I just wonder how Windows 2003 manage the address spaces ? Does it use
paging ?

Thanks
Peter


"John John" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
news:u46XuP3%23HHA.4184@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> You are confusing RAM with Virtual Address Space, the two are not the
> same.
>
> John
>
> Peter wrote:
>
>> Dear all,
>>
>> Thank you for your advice. The application we are using is SQL Server
>> 2005.
>>
>> If we have only 3GB of RAM, would it be a good idea not to use the /3G
>> switch ? From my understanding, SQL Sever will assume that there is 3GB
>> of RAM allocated to it and there will be contention with OS re RAM.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Peter
>>
>>
>> "Mathieu CHATEAU" <gollum123@free.fr> wrote in message
>> news:u5e9H40%23HHA.1188@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>
>>>Hello,
>>>
>>>this fellow is right, but you can't directly use the "/3G". Applications
>>>must be aware of it (having at least a tag in the image's executable).
>>>While application like exchange take advantage of it, remind it stuck the
>>>system in 1G. Depending on what is running on the server, that may break
>>>performance instead of helping.
>>>
>>>You need to provide more details
>>>
>>>--
>>>Cordialement,
>>>Mathieu CHATEAU
>>>http://lordoftheping.blogspot.com
>>>
>>>
>>>"Peter" <Peter@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>>news:uwcgrsw%23HHA.4584@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>
>>>>Hi,
>>>>
>>>>If we have 3GB of RAM in a Windows 2003 Server, we would like to know
>>>>would it be possible for us to make use all of them or we have to add
>>>>switches like /3G in the Boot.ini ? If it is the truth, we have to add
>>>>this switch in some of our servers.
>>>>
>>>>This is because a fellow has mentioned that by default, Kernel and
>>>>Operating System uses 2GB
>>>>of that XGB of RAM.
>>>>
>>>>Regards,
>>>>Peter
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
 
Re: LRe: How much RAM Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition can use?

Re: LRe: How much RAM Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition can use?

Peter wrote:

> Dear John,
>
> Thank you for your advice. From the articles, my understanding is that even
> though we have 2GB physical RAM and if SQL Server is installed, we still get
> 2 address spaces each of 2GB - One for the OS and one for the Application
> (In this case, the SQL Server 2005) ?

Yes, on 32-bit operating systems that is correct. 32-bit operating
systems can address 4 GB of memory and Windows operating systems devides
the address space evenly between user mode and kernel mode memory. Each
user mode process can be allocated 2GB of private address space. If you
use the /3GB switch the the kernel memory space is reduced to 1GB of
Virtual Address Space and the user mode processes that are Large Address
Aware can use 3GB.


> I just wonder how Windows 2003 manage the address spaces ? Does it use
> paging ?

The Virtual address space is always mapped to virtual memory, the
virtual memory addresses are translated into physical memory addresses
as needed, so yes, Windows uses the paging file to manage the address
space. That doesn't necessarilly mean the the system will page or that
it will page exessively, by mapping memory allocations to the virtual
memory the actual physical RAM is not directly allocated or all mapped
to one or a few user processes only.

John


Virtual Address Space
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366912.aspx

RAM, Virtual Memory, PageFile and all that stuff
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/WindowsGeneralWeb/RAMVirtualMemoryPageFileEtc.htm#2_1

A description of the 4 GB RAM Tuning feature and the Physical Address
Extension switch
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/291988

The Virtual-Memory Manager in Windows NT
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms810616.aspx
 
Re: LRe: How much RAM Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition can use ?

Re: LRe: How much RAM Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition can use ?

Dear John,

Thank you for your advice. It is much appreciated.

Peter

"John John" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
news:%23HnUGsk$HHA.3400@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Peter wrote:
>
>> Dear John,
>>
>> Thank you for your advice. From the articles, my understanding is that
>> even though we have 2GB physical RAM and if SQL Server is installed, we
>> still get 2 address spaces each of 2GB - One for the OS and one for the
>> Application (In this case, the SQL Server 2005) ?
>
> Yes, on 32-bit operating systems that is correct. 32-bit operating
> systems can address 4 GB of memory and Windows operating systems devides
> the address space evenly between user mode and kernel mode memory. Each
> user mode process can be allocated 2GB of private address space. If you
> use the /3GB switch the the kernel memory space is reduced to 1GB of
> Virtual Address Space and the user mode processes that are Large Address
> Aware can use 3GB.
>
>
>> I just wonder how Windows 2003 manage the address spaces ? Does it use
>> paging ?
>
> The Virtual address space is always mapped to virtual memory, the virtual
> memory addresses are translated into physical memory addresses as needed,
> so yes, Windows uses the paging file to manage the address space. That
> doesn't necessarilly mean the the system will page or that it will page
> exessively, by mapping memory allocations to the virtual memory the
> actual physical RAM is not directly allocated or all mapped to one or a
> few user processes only.
>
> John
>
>
> Virtual Address Space
> http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366912.aspx
>
> RAM, Virtual Memory, PageFile and all that stuff
> http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/WindowsGeneralWeb/RAMVirtualMemoryPageFileEtc.htm#2_1
>
> A description of the 4 GB RAM Tuning feature and the Physical Address
> Extension switch
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/291988
>
> The Virtual-Memory Manager in Windows NT
> http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms810616.aspx
 
Re: LRe: How much RAM Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition can use?

Re: LRe: How much RAM Windows 2003 Server Standard Edition can use?

You're welcome.

John

Peter wrote:

> Dear John,
>
> Thank you for your advice. It is much appreciated.
>
> Peter
>
> "John John" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
> news:%23HnUGsk$HHA.3400@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>
>>Peter wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Dear John,
>>>
>>>Thank you for your advice. From the articles, my understanding is that
>>>even though we have 2GB physical RAM and if SQL Server is installed, we
>>>still get 2 address spaces each of 2GB - One for the OS and one for the
>>>Application (In this case, the SQL Server 2005) ?
>>
>>Yes, on 32-bit operating systems that is correct. 32-bit operating
>>systems can address 4 GB of memory and Windows operating systems devides
>>the address space evenly between user mode and kernel mode memory. Each
>>user mode process can be allocated 2GB of private address space. If you
>>use the /3GB switch the the kernel memory space is reduced to 1GB of
>>Virtual Address Space and the user mode processes that are Large Address
>>Aware can use 3GB.
>>
>>
>>
>>>I just wonder how Windows 2003 manage the address spaces ? Does it use
>>>paging ?
>>
>>The Virtual address space is always mapped to virtual memory, the virtual
>>memory addresses are translated into physical memory addresses as needed,
>>so yes, Windows uses the paging file to manage the address space. That
>>doesn't necessarilly mean the the system will page or that it will page
>>exessively, by mapping memory allocations to the virtual memory the
>>actual physical RAM is not directly allocated or all mapped to one or a
>>few user processes only.
>>
>>John
>>
>>
>>Virtual Address Space
>>http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366912.aspx
>>
>>RAM, Virtual Memory, PageFile and all that stuff
>>http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/WindowsGeneralWeb/RAMVirtualMemoryPageFileEtc.htm#2_1
>>
>>A description of the 4 GB RAM Tuning feature and the Physical Address
>>Extension switch
>>http://support.microsoft.com/kb/291988
>>
>>The Virtual-Memory Manager in Windows NT
>>http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms810616.aspx
>
>
>
 
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