topic Monitoring memory usage with vmstat in Operating System - HP-UX

Monitoring memory usage with vmstat

Soren Hansen — Wed, 09 Jan 2002 07:42:16 GMT

We uses vmstat to monitor the amount of available memory. Does anobody know if file cache is reported as used memory on the free list?

Re: Monitoring memory usage with vmstat

John Palmer — Wed, 09 Jan 2002 08:48:03 GMT

What vmstat reports is 'free' is the number of free pages (at 4kb each). It doesn't include the buffer cache.

You can get the current size of the buffer cache (again in 4kb pages) with:-

echo bufpages/D|adb -k /stand/vmunix /dev/kmem

Regards,
John

Re: Monitoring memory usage with vmstat

Sridhar Bhaskarla — Wed, 09 Jan 2002 14:10:45 GMT

Hi Soren,

Your question - buffer cache is included in the used memory. It is not part of free list.

-Sri

Re: Monitoring memory usage with vmstat

Soren Hansen — Wed, 09 Jan 2002 14:42:12 GMT

Hi,

Thank you, that was very helpfull.

rgds.

Re: Monitoring memory usage with vmstat

James R. Ferguson — Wed, 09 Jan 2002 14:50:18 GMT

Hi Soren:

The buffer cache can also be observed with 'glance'. In the memory utilization graph the "B" region is the buffer cache. Also toggle the (m)emory report of glance and look at the bottom of the screen.

Regards!

...JRF...