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Reasonable Max Memory Usage?

  • January 8, 2013 at 4:38 am

    #393896

    Hey Everyone :-),

    I wanted to try setting the max memory usage on my test environment as currently sqlservr.exe is using 4317MB of the 5000MB. I just was hoping someone could give me some quick advice. Firstly I had looked at a few articles and blogs myself and I was wondering if anyone had a reason I shouldn't follow Glenn Berry's advice in this blog (http://www.sqlservercentral.com/blogs/glennberry/2009/10/29/suggested-max-memory-settings-for-sql-server-2005_2F00_2008/).

    I was also wondering if I should change it at all? If sqlservr.exe is using that amount of memory would I be putting significant strain on it by setting the max memory usage?

    Thanks in advance everyone, and I hope your all having a nice day 🙂

    Craig

  • January 8, 2013 at 5:12 am

    #1574758

    Sound advice from Glenn Berry and I'm not aware of any good reasons not to follow it.

    Restricting SQL Server's memory use may hurt performance in some cases, but allowing it to "strangle" the OS and get into fights with Windows will hurt worse and can cause far more serious problems. So, basically, if you think your suggested max memory setting is too low for your SQL Server, you should set it anyway and then order more memory. 🙂

    Kind regards,

    Vegard Hagen
    Norwegian DBA, occasional blogger and generally a nice guy who believes the world is big enough for all of us.
    @vegard_hagen on Twitter
    Blog: Vegards corner (No actual SQL stuff here - havent found my niche yet. Maybe some day...)

    It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. (Chinese proverb)

  • January 8, 2013 at 5:13 am

    #1574760

    Set max server memory, unless you like SQL being able to starve the OS and sitting in a near-constant grow memory, release memory cycle.

    At 5 GB of memory total, you probably want SQL's max server memory no higher than 4GB to give the OS enough space.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

  • January 8, 2013 at 5:30 am

    #1574767

    Hi Vegard,

    Thanks for the advice :-), I just didn't want to start implementing new settings without asking if the information was correct.

    Craig

  • January 8, 2013 at 5:34 am

    #1574768

    Hey Gila,

    Cant believe you've taken the time to help me yet again :Wow: 4GB is what I had in mind, so I think I'll implement it now and see how it runs 🙂 Thanks again for all your help everyone. Have a nice day.

    Regards,

    Craig

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