• SQL Server gradually grabs RAM as it needs it to run queries, etc. It does not release RAM until you cycle the service or the OS tells it to give up the RAM. This does not mean SQL Server is always utilizing all of the RAM it has, it just means other applications are not able to grab the RAM.

    If SQL is the only thing installed on the server, you should set MAX RAM to around 2GB less than the total RAM on the server. This way the OS can function.

    Here is an article about how to set MAX RAM: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms191144(v=sql.105).aspx

    Hope that helps.

    - Tony Sweet