[PLUG] Massive buffer cache yet still swapping
Terry Griffin
griffint at pobox.com
Wed Sep 3 12:53:02 UTC 2003
On Wed, Sep 03, 2003 at 11:17:42AM -0700, Steve Bonds wrote:
> I've recently run into a performance problem on my desktop where the
> system swaps out things that I'd rather stay in memory (i.e. the Mozilla
> session I was using 10 minutes ago, desktops I haven't visited for a
> while, etc.) All the while, I see a massive buffer cache taking up space
> that could be used for the programs I'm about to use again.
>
> A search of the Usual Spots (google) hasn't turned up much:
>
> http://www.google.com/search?q=linux+buffer+cache+limits
>
> This guy seems to have the same problem I do:
> + http://mail.nl.linux.org/linux-mm/2001-04/msg00010.html
>
> but I never saw any solution posted.
>
> Even in 1999 it looked like the documented /proc/sys/vm values didn't
> work:
> + http://mail.nl.linux.org/linux-mm-www/1999-12/msg00000.html
>
> Here's what /proc/meminfo shows me:
>
> -----
> total: used: free: shared: buffers: cached:
> Mem: 517677056 510160896 7516160 0 35762176 363266048
> Swap: 534634496 131747840 402886656
> MemTotal: 505544 kB
> MemFree: 7340 kB
> MemShared: 0 kB
> Buffers: 34924 kB
> Cached: 327292 kB
> SwapCached: 27460 kB
> Active: 378056 kB
> ActiveAnon: 171064 kB
> ActiveCache: 206992 kB
> Inact_dirty: 6064 kB
> Inact_laundry: 67784 kB
> Inact_clean: 8820 kB
> Inact_target: 92144 kB
> HighTotal: 0 kB
> HighFree: 0 kB
> LowTotal: 505544 kB
> LowFree: 7340 kB
> SwapTotal: 522104 kB
> SwapFree: 393444 kB
> -----
>
> The problem is the Cached: line seems very high. The next step is some
> kernel-diving, but it would be great if one of you knows of a good way to
> tune this.
>
> -- Steve
>
>
What kernel version is this? And is it a stock kernel from kernel.org or
a patched kernel from a distributor?
Terry
--
Terry Griffin <griffint at pobox.com>
http://www.blindchicken.com/~terryg/
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