Re: why does the kernel suck up memory?
Jay Barbee writes:
> > I've noticed that when I added more memory, the extra memory went into
> > "buffers". Why? I don't have a heavily loaded system which would require
> > massive buffers. How can I change the kernel to stop with this unnecessary
> > behavior?
> > I'm trying to keep from using swap space. Once a swap partition is accessed,
> > it is never dropped and I need to _not_ access swap space for performance
> > reasons (IO bandwidth).
>
> Why would you add memory and not expect your operating system to use
> it. That would be a waste. The Linux kernel takes your memory and
> allows various parts of your system (such as disk IO) to speed up.
>
> DOS doesn't do that kind of memory monitoring, and in the case of
> Microsoft (not NT), free memory is useable memory. Because you
> memory is in cache and buffers does not mean that it will not get
> used if it is needed.
>
> --Jay
I have trouble with the idea that a swap partition is "never dropped"
once it is accessed, especially in light of the following:
osiris# cat /proc/meminfo
total: used: free: shared: buffers: cached:
Mem: 48283648 42934272 5349376 28479488 1650688 16846848
Swap: 94957568 0 94957568
MemTotal: 47152 kB
MemFree: 5224 kB
MemShared: 27812 kB
Buffers: 1612 kB
Cached: 16452 kB
SwapTotal: 92732 kB
SwapFree: 92732 kB
osiris# swapoff /dev/hda2
osiris# cat /proc/meminfo
total: used: free: shared: buffers: cached:
Mem: 48283648 42909696 5373952 28483584 1650688 16846848
Swap: 0 0 0
MemTotal: 47152 kB
MemFree: 5248 kB
MemShared: 27816 kB
Buffers: 1612 kB
Cached: 16452 kB
SwapTotal: 0 kB
SwapFree: 0 kB
If one really wants to avoid swap, why wouldn't one simply
not have any swap partitions?
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