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Win2k3 with 6GB of Ram

Author

Topic

redbrad0
Posting Yak Master

176 Posts

Posted - 2005-05-17 : 16:27:29

I just upgraded a Windows 2003 machine to hold 6gb of ram instead of the old 4GB I had in it. I have added the /PAE to my boot.ini but when I view the servers System Properties it only shows 4GB and SQL Server will not allow me to choose anything above 4GB. Any idea what is going on?


[boot loader]
timeout=1
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows Server 2003, Standard" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut /PAE

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TimS
Posting Yak Master

198 Posts

Posted - 2005-05-17 : 17:29:01

See http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;283037

The limit to 32 bit computer address is 4 GB at a time.

I assume it uses the memory above 4 GB as fast virtual memory for the apps.

Tim S

derrickleggett
Pointy Haired Yak DBA

4184 Posts

Posted - 2005-05-17 : 17:35:13

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/features/compareeditions.mspx

You will need to also buy a new edition of Windows.

Tim, that's what the PAE switch is for. It allows you to use AWE to access above the 4gb limit.

MeanOldDBA
derrickleggett@hotmail.com

When life gives you a lemon, fire the DBA.

TimS
Posting Yak Master

198 Posts

Posted - 2005-05-17 : 17:53:57

See http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnsqldev/html/sqldev_01262004.asp

For a clearer idea of how it works.

Tim S

derrickleggett
Pointy Haired Yak DBA

4184 Posts

Posted - 2005-05-17 : 18:08:33

I'm not going to say anything.

I'm not going to say anything.

I'm not going to say anything.

MeanOldDBA
derrickleggett@hotmail.com

When life gives you a lemon, fire the DBA.

robvolk
Most Valuable Yak

15732 Posts

Posted - 2005-05-17 : 18:18:49

And you're not gonna say anything 3 times.

eyechart
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

3575 Posts

Posted - 2005-05-17 : 19:34:32

windows server 2003 standard does not support using the PAE switch. The PAE switch will just be ignored. To use PAE memory, you need to use the Enterprise Edition, or Datacenter edition of Win2k3.

You need to run the enterprise edition of SQL2K to use the PAE provided memory. To make this work, you need to use sp_configure to set awe enabled to 1.

-ec

eyechart
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

3575 Posts

Posted - 2005-05-17 : 19:52:19

btw, you should probably be using the /3GB switch instead.

-ec

MichaelP
Jedi Yak

2489 Posts

Posted - 2005-05-17 : 20:15:42

Why would he want /3GB? Just so he doesn't have to upgrade to EE?

With 6GB's of RAM, he's probably going to want PAE so that the OS will use 2GB, and SQL Server will use up to 4GB's.

Michael

<Yoda>Use the Search page you must. Find the answer you will.</Yoda>

redbrad0
Posting Yak Master

176 Posts

Posted - 2005-05-17 : 20:17:01

eyechart,

So even though I will have 6GB of member I need to only use the 3GB switch? The data center is currently reloading the OS to Enterprise Edition to get this going. I just want to make sure when I get the server I will know what I will need to put in the boot.ini file and also how to set SQL Server... sp_configure?

Thanks,
Brad Wickwire

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derrickleggett
Pointy Haired Yak DBA

4184 Posts

Posted - 2005-05-17 : 20:21:37

If you are going to have the OS and SQL Server at Enterprise Edition, then you will want the boot.ini file to have:

"/3GB /PAE"

You will want to also run:

(from Books Online)

quote:

sp_configure 'show advanced options', 1
RECONFIGURE
GO
sp_configure 'awe enabled', 1
RECONFIGURE
GO
sp_configure 'max server memory', 6144
RECONFIGURE
GO

to allow SQL Server to use the AWE memory. Make sure you set a maximum size on the SQL Server memory. It doesn't have to be 6144 necessarily. You will probably want 4096.

MeanOldDBA
derrickleggett@hotmail.com

When life gives you a lemon, fire the DBA.

redbrad0
Posting Yak Master

176 Posts

Posted - 2005-05-17 : 20:27:02

Well this is a dedicated SQL Server so maybe set it at 5.5 GB of max memory?

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derrickleggett
Pointy Haired Yak DBA

4184 Posts

Posted - 2005-05-17 : 20:37:16

Sorry, I was thinking 5 GB of total server RAM instead of 6. You will want to set it at 5 GB, leaving the 1GB for the OS. That would be 5120.

MeanOldDBA
derrickleggett@hotmail.com

When life gives you a lemon, fire the DBA.

redbrad0
Posting Yak Master

176 Posts

Posted - 2005-05-17 : 20:39:48

Thanks guys very much.... very helpful

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eyechart
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

3575 Posts

Posted - 2005-05-17 : 21:26:03

quote:
Originally posted by MichaelP

Why would he want /3GB? Just so he doesn't have to upgrade to EE?

yes, exactly.

-ec

eyechart
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker

3575 Posts

Posted - 2005-05-17 : 21:43:53

quote:
Originally posted by redbrad0
So even though I will have 6GB of member I need to only use the 3GB switch? The data center is currently reloading the OS to Enterprise Edition to get this going.

If your support guys did not load up the EE edition of Win2k3, then the /3GB switch is the only thing you could have used to get at a little more of your memory.

using the /3GB /PAE switches together will be your best choice when using the EE edition. btw, you need to be running the EE edition of SQL Server as well. I don't think you ever mentioned which version you were running.

-ec

derrickleggett
Pointy Haired Yak DBA

4184 Posts

Posted - 2005-05-17 : 22:05:50

Hopefully, he already knew that.

If not, he really needs to look at the memory specifications for the versions of SQL Server.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/architec/8_ar_ts_8dbn.asp

MeanOldDBA
derrickleggett@hotmail.com

When life gives you a lemon, fire the DBA.

redbrad0
Posting Yak Master

176 Posts

Posted - 2005-05-17 : 22:36:24

Yes I have the EE, I really am waiting for sql 2k5 which I have not even beta tested but from things I have read its the way to go.

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redbrad0
Posting Yak Master

176 Posts

Posted - 2005-05-18 : 19:41:28

I just got my server online and wanted to make sure this is correct for the boot.ini file...

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows Server 2003, Enterprise" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut /3GB /PAE

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derrickleggett
Pointy Haired Yak DBA

4184 Posts

Posted - 2005-05-18 : 23:43:32

Looks good.

MeanOldDBA
derrickleggett@hotmail.com

When life gives you a lemon, fire the DBA.

MichaelP
Jedi Yak

2489 Posts

Posted - 2005-05-19 : 10:22:36

Why /3GB and /PAE? I thought you only needed one or the other??
Maybe I read that KB article incorrectly?

Derrick, can you help explain it?

Michael

<Yoda>Use the Search page you must. Find the answer you will.</Yoda>

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