On Sun, 2003-06-15 at 20:29, kiosk wrote: > Hi all, > > I'm a recent convert to default MDK 9.1 [+ relevant security updates] > after using slackware for a couple of years [and RedHat, Suse, before > that]. I'm really very impressed by MDK but there's one thing which is > bugging me. > > I realize that unused memory is wasted memory [in the words of linus > himself, IIRC] but I wonder if the pattern of memory usage I'm > experiencing is to be expected when using MDK. I have 512Mb RAM and the > same amount of swap. I see the amount of memory used creeping ever upward > and I find myself wondering what would happen were I to attempt to > achieve the kind of uptime which some of you here seem to regard as > reasonable - that is to say, months, if not years. > > I'm dual booting with Win2000 and never have much more than 24hrs uptime > with linux due to the demands of an email account set up on the Win2000 > side. Ideally i would adopt MDK as my OS of choice if it were not for this > paranoia regarding memory use. > > At the time of writing, after 2 days and 10 hours uptime with MDK, I'm on > the verge of swapping. I reduced runnning services to a minimum shortly > after install, and tend to average around 51 processes running at any > given time, most of which are due to KDE's requirements. I have no network > other than ppp with my external modem and I'm not using much other than > Sylpheed and Pan most of the time. "Top" doesn't show anything unusual > other than memory use slowly but surely increasing. i did use swap after > a wonderful extended session with the Gimp but i'm wondering what will > happen if I start compiling kernels, etc, too ... > > Am i just someone who ought to get out more often or is this kind of > memory usage atypical? I ought to add that I'm using the most recent > NVIDIA drivers with an unsupported Intel chipset, so the agpgart module > does not load. > > Asus P4G8X Deluxe > 512 Mb RAM > 2 x WDC 40 Gig > MSI Ti4800SE 8x > Samsung TFT monitor > 3Com USRobotics external modem > MS intellimouse > Standard PS2 type Keyboard [UK] > ... no other peripherals > ... Firewire, Onboard NIC, USB, as yet unused ... > > > apologies for being so verbose.
No problem on the verbosity... better than "doesn't work" *grin*. On memory usage. I'm running 380MB here and yes. Reading top shows that memory is always topped out.... But I rarely if every swap. Linux Mac FreeBSD Windows all do this. They "preload" as much of the OS as possible into ram and then prioritize it. Meaning Much of what is in there is there "just in case" you need something fast. However even with ram usage appearing maxed out it actually isn't if a program needs ram then as much as is possible (and the more you have the more that is possible) is cleared up instantly for you to use. Since ram is always faster than disk this is a big boost to performance. Suffice it to say my box always appears about to swap.. and never does. Even when I run win4lin and a user mode linux install at the same time as my main install I still don't swap. With 512 megs of Ram like you have there may be 20 megs (or less not sure) that will never be available to non os related processes ... but the rest is there whenever you need it. James > > many thanks, > > Janet Blankfield > > > "Some doubt the existence of the sun > as it slides (like God) between the girders." > > ----------------------------- > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > ----------------------------- > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > > Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? > Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
