Allocate more memory on SQL Server

  • How do I know if I need to allocate more memory for SQL Server? Thank you

  • There are a few performance metrics to watch for that may signify signs of memory pressure and the need for more memory.

    1. Buffer Cache Hit Ratio - by far the most common metric. This should stay pretty close to 99.xx %. Keep in mind that this is cumulative from the last restart of the SQL service.

    2. Page Life Expectancy - this indicates how long the pages are staying in cache. Values consistently below 300 indicate possible need for more memory.

    3. SQL Server Total and Target Memory - Target represents how much memory SQL has available for it while Total tells you how much SQL Server is currently using. Don't think that because these 2 values are the same that you need more memory. This is just a good indicator that SQL is actually using what is available for it. If the Total is consistently below the Target, you may be OK w/ memory.

    4. Lazy Writes / sec - this tells you how often SQL must write dirty pages from memory to disk to free up memory. Consistent values of > 20 indicate possible need for more memory.

    Monitoring these metrics should give you a pretty good idea of how you memory is being used and if your system could benefit from more memory.

    John Rowan

    ======================================================
    ======================================================
    Forum Etiquette: How to post data/code on a forum to get the best help[/url] - by Jeff Moden

  • Hi, I checked #1 is 92%

    #2 is 175, how do I add memory?

  • How much memory is in your server?

    What is your max server memory set at (sp_configure)?

    What version of SQL Server are you on?

    What Server OS version are you on?

    What else are you running on your server?

    John Rowan

    ======================================================
    ======================================================
    Forum Etiquette: How to post data/code on a forum to get the best help[/url] - by Jeff Moden

  • How much memory is in your server?

    8163 (MB)

    What is your max server memory set at (sp_configure)?6115 in MB

    Name min max conf run value

    allow updates 0 1 00

    Cross DB Ownership Chaining 0 1 00

    default language 0 9999 00

    max text repl size (B) 0 21474836476553665536

    nested triggers 0 1 1 1

    remote access 0 1 1 1

    remote login timeout (s) 0 21474836472020

    remote proc trans0 1 0 0

    remote query timeout (s) 0 2147483647600600

    show advanced options 0 1 00

    user options 0 32767 00

    What version of SQL Server are you on?

    2000

    What Server OS version are you on? Operating system:

    Microsoft Windows NT 5.2 (3790)

    What else are you running on your server?

    No, just monitoring tools

    Thank you

  • You'll need to set your advanced options for sp_configure to ON for your max server memory values to display.

    Also, what version of SQL Server 2000 are you running?

    John Rowan

    ======================================================
    ======================================================
    Forum Etiquette: How to post data/code on a forum to get the best help[/url] - by Jeff Moden

  • You'll need to set your advanced options for sp_configure to ON for your max server memory values to display. If I sat on is this going damage anything, any performance problems?

    Also, what version of SQL Server 2000 are you running?

    Microsoft SQL Server Standard Edition

  • Krasavita (5/4/2009)


    You'll need to set your advanced options for sp_configure to ON for your max server memory values to display. If I sat on is this going damage anything, any performance problems?

    No, it will just let you view the advanced options, nothing more.

    John Rowan

    ======================================================
    ======================================================
    Forum Etiquette: How to post data/code on a forum to get the best help[/url] - by Jeff Moden

  • I don't see that option in advance settings to change sp_configure, do I need to add more space. Thank you

  • sp_configure 'show advanced options',1

    reconfigure

    go

    Then re-run sp_configure.

    John Rowan

    ======================================================
    ======================================================
    Forum Etiquette: How to post data/code on a forum to get the best help[/url] - by Jeff Moden

  • SQLServer:Memory Manager Target Server Memory(KB) 167464865536

    SQLServer:Memory Manager Total Server Memory (KB) 167464865536

  • Ok, I re ran sP_reconfigure

    affinity mask-2147483648214748364700

    allow updates0100

    awe enabled0111

    c2 audit mode0100

    cost threshold for parallelism03276755

    Cross DB Ownership Chaining0100

    cursor threshold-12147483647-1-1

    default full-text language0214748364710331033

    default language0999900

    fill factor (%)010000

    index create memory (KB)704214748364700

    lightweight pooling0100

    locks5000214748364700

    max degree of parallelism03200

    max server memory (MB)4214748364761156115

    max text repl size (B)021474836476553665536

    max worker threads3232767255255

    media retention036500

    min memory per query (KB)512214748364710241024

    min server memory (MB)0214748364700

    nested triggers0111

    network packet size (B)5123276740964096

    open objects0214748364700

    priority boost0100

    query governor cost limit0214748364700

    query wait (s)-12147483647-1-1

    recovery interval (min)03276700

    remote access0111

    remote login timeout (s)021474836472020

    remote proc trans0100

    remote query timeout (s)02147483647600600

    scan for startup procs0100

    set working set size0100

    show advanced options0111

    two digit year cutoff1753999920492049

    user connections03276700

    user options03276700

  • Also, should I change it back to sp_configure to 0. or I can leave it?

  • Krasavita (5/4/2009)


    Also, should I change it back to sp_configure to 0. or I can leave it?

    It's up to you...it doesn't hurt anything to leave it, but others that run sp_configure may see the advanced options.....personal preference.

    So it looks like you've got 8 GB in your server and you've attempted to set your SQL instance to use 6 GB of the 8. You've got awe enabled, but your Target/Total values show just shy of 2 GB. Here's the scoop. You cannot run awe on SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition so you're stuck with 4 GB of memory. By default, SQL Server only has access to 2 of the 4 GB of memory. You can set the /3GB switch in your boot.ini file and get access to 3 GB of the 4 (but I think this only works in Advanced Server OS).

    Here's a great reference for SQL Server 2000 memory configuration. http://www.sql-server-performance.com/articles/per/awe_memory_sql2000_p1.aspx

    Bottom line....try configuring for the 3GB and see if it helps w/ memory, otherwise, you'll need to upgrade to Enterprise Edition or SQL Server 2005.

    John Rowan

    ======================================================
    ======================================================
    Forum Etiquette: How to post data/code on a forum to get the best help[/url] - by Jeff Moden

  • Thank you so much for your help, how can I get to boot.ini file ?and get access to 3 GB How can I find out if it works only in Advanced Server OS? Thank you again

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 42 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply