Question

Virtual Memory under top shows 10x higher on 2.6 kernel then on 2.4

Asked by: medent

Hi, I am comparing how an application runs on a 2.6 kernel (redhat EL4.3) to how it runs on a 2.4 kernel (redhat 7.3).  Using the ps command I see similar results in the SIZE column; however, using the top command I see a huge difference in the VIRT column.  The RES and SHR are about the same between 2.4 and 2.6, but the VIRT is 10 times higher in the 2.6 kernel (2.4 = 4800,  2.6= 41000).
I have the same top version (procps-3.2.3-8.3).  My guess is that teh VIRT in 2.4 is not working...?  I want to 100% sure that the application does not actually behave badly in 2.6... Thanks

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Asked On
2006-05-08 at 11:56:30ID21842497
Tags

top

,

virt

,

memory

,

column

Topic

Linux Administration

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Answers

 

by: DonConsolioPosted on 2006-05-08 at 19:15:41ID: 16635927

try using pmap to get "real" memory usage info.

e.g.
# pmap -d PID_OF_PROCESS
Address   Kbytes Mode  Offset           Device    Mapping
08048000     456 r-x-- 0000000000000000 068:00001 bash
080ba000      12 rw--- 0000000000071000 068:00001 bash
[...]
bfffa000      24 rw--- 00000000bfffa000 000:00000   [ stack ]
ffffe000       4 ----- 0000000000000000 000:00000   [ anon ]
mapped: 3096K    writeable/private: 612K    shared: 24K

 

by: medentPosted on 2006-05-09 at 06:35:20ID: 16639125

Thanks. Here is the output.  Pmap looks the same on both (2.4 and 2.6), so top/VIRT on 2.4 is not accurate.  Can I derive from this output the real physical memory in use?

[root@testvx root]# pmap -x 27977
27977:   winmed_v15.26 -I194.0.0.250 -NPAULM-XP  -S5 -P11401 -R2 -TSun_May_07_09
:23:55_2006434  -B15
Address   Kbytes     RSS    Anon  Locked Mode   Mapping
08048000   26824       -       -       - r-x--  winmed_v15.26
09a7a000     512       -       -       - rw---  winmed_v15.26
09afa000   11368       -       -       - rwx--    [ anon ]
40007000      40       -       -       - r-x--  libnss_files-2.3.2.so
40011000       4       -       -       - rw---  libnss_files-2.3.2.so
40012000    1160       -       -       - r-x--  libc-2.3.2.so
40134000      24       -       -       - rw---  libc-2.3.2.so
4013a000       8       -       -       - rw---    [ anon ]
4013c000      72       -       -       - r-x--  ld-2.3.2.so
4014e000       4       -       -       - rw---  ld-2.3.2.so
bffed000      76       -       -       - rwx--    [ stack ]
-------- ------- ------- ------- -------
total kB   40092       -       -       -

 

by: DonConsolioPosted on 2006-05-09 at 12:24:58ID: 16642383

"pmap -d" gives better info for your question
it shows shared (used by several apps) and private (used only by your process) memory

 

by: medentPosted on 2006-05-10 at 04:07:45ID: 16647430

perfect- thanks.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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