[NTLUG:Discuss] Memory

[Kevin Brannen]

Joey_Berry at compusa.com wrote:
> 
> The line -/+ buffers/cache: 16048 thats free & 241472 that is cached.

Therefore, you have 241M being used by the system cache, to make your
HD accesses faster.  But if the system needs that for an app, it will
be sacrificed (so to speak).  So that memory is really "free" too.  To
know what's being used for real:

	actual_memory_in_use = used - free - buffers - cached

Also try firing up the "xosview" program.  It'll show all those parts
graphically.  Only the "blue" part is used, all (well almost all :-)
the rest is free if the system needs it.  (the system does need a few
buffers at all times)

HTH,
Kevin


> 
> "George E. Lass" <George.Lass at osc.com> on 06/02/2000 01:10:05 PM
> 
> Joey_Berry at compusa.com wrote:
> >
> >       My machine running RH 6.2 has 256M. of memory however after the machine
> >       has been up for a few days most of the memory is used and the machine is
> >       starting to use swap space. In top the only apps showing that are using
> >       mem. are top, bash, mingetty, and pump. What can I do or check for to
> >       improve the memory usage?
> >
> When you run free, what does the line starting with
> 
> -/+ buffers:
> 
> show? Perhaps your memory is being used by kernel buffers.