Heap Size and garbage collection

[Waqar Razi]

In configuring java based applications, we generally talk about heap size and garbage collection.

What do we mean by these terms and how are they configured in JVM?

Can some one please give me some guidance. I am new to configuring java based stuff on hpux.

[Avinash20 · Accepted solution]

Garbage collection is the VM process of de-allocating unused Java objects in the Java heap.The Java heap is where the objects of a Java program live. It is a repository for live objects, dead objects, and free memory. When an object can no longer be reached from any pointer in the running program, the object is garbage.

The JVM heap size determines how often and how long the VM spends collecting garbage. An acceptable rate for garbage collection is application-specific and should be adjusted after analyzing the actual time and frequency of garbage collections.

[Avinash20]

This link might be helpful for you:

http://h20392.www2.hp.com/portal/swdepot/displayProductInfo.do?productNumber=HPUXJAVAINFOLIB

Please assign point. :

[Rajasekhar Gundu]

You can read more about the JVM Heap size at
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/wmbhelp/v6r1m0/index.jsp?topic=/com.ibm.etools.mft.doc/ac55070_.htm

& also about the JVM garbage collection at
http://java.sun.com/docs/hotspot/gc1.4.2/

This is ultimately good material for start up & you can rely on.

-Raj