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memory

The memory column shows the current memory usage on the host. It attempts to show physical, actual, and swap.

Definitions:

The term memory identifies data storage that comes in the form of chips, and the word storage is used for memory that exists on tapes or disks. Moreover, the term memory is usually used as a shorthand for physical memory, which refers to the actual chips capable of holding data. Some computers also use virtual memory, which expands physical memory onto a hard disk.

Physical Memory:: The memory hardware (normally RAM) installed in a computer. The term is only used in contrast to virtual memory.
Virtual Memory:: The address space available to a process running in a system with a memory management unit (MMU).
Actual Memory:: A computed value that reflects physical memory +/- any buffers or cache that is currently in use. This value may not be available on all operating systems.
Swap Memory:: An area of disk (e.g. a swap file) used to store the state of a process that has been swapped out. Under a virtual memory system, it is the amount of swap space rather than the amount of physical memory which determines the maximum size of a single process and the maximum total size of all active processes.

Currently supported operating systems:

Linux (RedHat, Slackware, Debian)
AIX
HPUX
IRIX
OSF
SOLARIS

Distribution

The current copy of bb-memory can be obtained from either the development site or the Big Brother archives.

   Big Brother Archives: http://www.deadcat.net
   Development Site:     http://www.ben-tech.com/projects/bb/bb-memory

Note: The MOST-CURRENT-COPY will always be on the development site.

*NIX Customization

Within the bb-memory.sh script there are a few variables that are customizeable to better suit various environments. These variables are the warning levels for the various parts of the memory test.

PERCENT_PHYS_WARN		Warning level for physical memory.
PERCENT_PHYS_PANIC		Panic level for physical memory.
PERCENT_ACT_WARN		Warning level for actual memory.
PERCENT_ACT_PANIC		Panic level for actual memory.
PERCENT_SWAP_WARN		Warning level for swap/paging memory.
PERCENT_SWAP_PANIC		Panic level for swap/paging memory.

Windows NT Usage

Command line usage for Windows NT <.>bb-memory test.

usage: bb_memory.exe [OPTIONS...]

where:
   -p PATH         - Set the PATH to place the output.
                     (Creates the file PATH\memory)
   -P "WARN PANIC" - Set WARN and PANIC values for physical memory.
   -S "WARN PANIC" - Set WARN and PANIC values for swap/paging memory.
   -V "WARN PANIC" - Set WARN and PANIC values for virtual memory.
   -F              - Turn on "Fully Qualified Domain Names" (FQDN).

If a PATH is not specified, then output will be directed to STDOUT.

NOTE: For the warning values, you will need to enclose them with
      quotation marks.

Example:

* To run bb_memory.exe using FQDN and directing output to C:\EXT_OUT run...

   bb_memory.exe -F -p C:\EXT_OUT

* To run bb_memory.exe using FQDN, directing output to C:\EXT_OUT, and using the values 75 & 90 for physical memory run...

   bb_memory.exe -F -p C:\EXT_OUT -P "75 90"

Support

Support for bb-memory can be obtained by sending a message to either the Big Brother mailing list bb@bb4.com or to the current maintainer of the bb-memory package bb-memory-support@ben-tech.com.

$Id: memory.html,v 1.1 2004/02/12 22:45:17 henrik Exp $