Xymon Mailing List Archive search

real memory status

5 messages in this thread

list Kris Springer · Fri, 16 Mar 2018 10:18:14 -0700 ·
What is the 'Real/Physical' memory status?  It always shows above 95% even though my system memory hovers around 30%.  I've read that it's based on the results of the 'free' command, but when I manually run that command I only get 'Actual' and 'Swap' values.  This 'Real' status doesn't seam 'real' at all.  I'm routinely forced to manually ignore that specific value's tolerances via the 'analysis.cfg' file, but that seems counter productive if the 'Real' status actually means something important.  Can anyone advise?

Thank you.

Kris Springer

list Jason Brockdorf · Fri, 16 Mar 2018 12:51:10 -0500 ·
Here's an answer I found googling...

 
https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/147006/real-vs-actual-memory-in-xymon-hobbit

 
From how I understand it, your system memory will be used by services/apps/etc and that usage is referred to as "actual".  The remainder of the memory that's not in use for those purposes will be put to use by the kernel as buffers/cache.  Basically in Linux (unless you need to tune this for some specific reason) you really don't need to as worried about "real" memory usage, and the fact that it uses that leftover memory to speed up the system is actually a good thing.  As far as xymon works, you should be concerned with the "actual" usage (but not *completely* disregard real usage).

 
I found a really good article one time that explains it.  I'll try to find it and send in reply if I can.
quoted from Kris Springer

 
From: Xymon [mailto:xymon-bounces at xymon.com] On Behalf Of Kris Springer
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2018 12:18 PM
To: xymon at xymon.com
Subject: [Xymon] real memory status

 
What is the 'Real/Physical' memory status?  It always shows above 95% even though my system memory hovers around 30%.  I've read that it's based on the results of the 'free' command, but when I manually run that command I only get 'Actual' and 'Swap' values.  This 'Real' status doesn't seam 'real' at all.  I'm routinely forced to manually ignore that specific value's tolerances via the 'analysis.cfg' file, but that seems counter productive if the 'Real' status actually means something important.  Can anyone advise?

 
Thank you.

Kris Springer
list Jason Brockdorf · Fri, 16 Mar 2018 12:53:33 -0500 ·
Found it: https://www.linuxatemyram.com/

-----Original Message-----
From: Xymon [mailto:xymon-bounces at xymon.com] On Behalf Of Jason Brockdorf via Xymon
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2018 12:51 PM
To: 'Kris Springer' <user-c2caa0a7a8d5@xymon.invalid>; xymon at xymon.com
Subject: Re: [Xymon] real memory status
list Galen Johnson · Fri, 16 Mar 2018 13:57:44 -0400 ·
We did some digging on Linux memory management recently and came to the
conclusion that it's just one big Ponzi Scheme.

=G=

On Fri, Mar 16, 2018 at 1:51 PM, Jason Brockdorf via Xymon <xymon at xymon.com>
wrote:
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jason Brockdorf <user-fa0be9c5d46d@xymon.invalid>
To: "'Kris Springer'" <user-c2caa0a7a8d5@xymon.invalid>, <xymon at xymon.com>
Cc:
Bcc:
Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2018 12:51:10 -0500
quoted from Jason Brockdorf
Subject: RE: [Xymon] real memory status

Here's an answer I found googling...


https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/147006/real-vs-
actual-memory-in-xymon-hobbit
quoted from Jason Brockdorf


From how I understand it, your system memory will be used by
services/apps/etc and that usage is referred to as "actual".  The remainder
of the memory that's not in use for those purposes will be put to use by
the kernel as buffers/cache.  Basically in Linux (unless you need to tune
this for some specific reason) you really don't need to as worried about
"real" memory usage, and the fact that it uses that leftover memory to
speed up the system is actually a good thing.  As far as xymon works, you
should be concerned with the "actual" usage (but not *completely* disregard
real usage).


I found a really good article one time that explains it.  I'll try to find
it and send in reply if I can.


*From:* Xymon [mailto:xymon-bounces at xymon.com] *On Behalf Of *Kris
Springer
*Sent:* Friday, March 16, 2018 12:18 PM
*To:* xymon at xymon.com
*Subject:* [Xymon] real memory status


What is the 'Real/Physical' memory status?  It always shows above 95% even
though my system memory hovers around 30%.  I've read that it's based on
the results of the 'free' command, but when I manually run that command I
only get 'Actual' and 'Swap' values.  This 'Real' status doesn't seam
'real' at all.  I'm routinely forced to manually ignore that specific
value's tolerances via the 'analysis.cfg' file, but that seems counter
productive if the 'Real' status actually means something important.  Can
anyone advise?


Thank you.

Kris Springer

list Kris Springer · Fri, 16 Mar 2018 11:25:09 -0700 ·
Thanks for the reply.  It seems that the 'Actual/Virtual' percentage is what I would consider Ram usage on a linux host, but on Windows hosts the Ram usage is the 'Real/Physical' value.  Very confusing.


Thank you.

Kris Springer

quoted from Jason Brockdorf


On 03/16/2018 10:51 AM, Jason Brockdorf wrote:

Here's an answer I found googling...


https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/147006/real-vs-actual-memory-in-xymon-hobbit


From how I understand it, your system memory will be used by services/apps/etc and that usage is referred to as "actual".  The remainder of the memory that's not in use for those purposes will be put to use by the kernel as buffers/cache.  Basically in Linux (unless you need to tune this for some specific reason) you really don't need to as worried about "real" memory usage, and the fact that it uses that leftover memory to speed up the system is actually a good thing.  As far as xymon works, you should be concerned with the "actual" usage (but not *completely* disregard real usage).


I found a really good article one time that explains it.  I'll try to find it and send in reply if I can.


From: Xymon [mailto:xymon-bounces@xymon.com] On Behalf Of Kris Springer
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2018 12:18 PM
To: xymon@xymon.com
Subject: [Xymon] real memory status


What is the 'Real/Physical' memory status?  It always shows above 95% even though my system memory hovers around 30%.  I've read that it's based on the results of the 'free' command, but when I manually run that command I only get 'Actual' and 'Swap' values.  This 'Real' status doesn't seam 'real' at all.  I'm routinely forced to manually ignore that specific value's tolerances via the 'analysis.cfg' file, but that seems counter productive if the 'Real' status actually means something important.  Can anyone advise?


Thank you.

Kris Springer