Nirmit79
asked on
Paging on Windows 2000 Server
Hi,
I have bought a new Server ( HP Proliant DL 380 G5, 4 GB Memory, Dual Processor). Have 2 Raids ( RAID 10 on 2 HD for OS & RAID 5 on 4 HD for Data) . I have Windows 2000 SP 4 installed. The Server would function as QAS Server for SAP. My coworker (SAP Basis) wants to do PAGING (increase) for each Partition ( We have C Drive is :, D, E, F & G...C Drive is the bootable Drive) My argument is since there is RAID going on (Data being distributed through out the HD) and We have good enough Memory. It should be avoided. However, My knowledge about Paging is not that much nor is his.. Can you please tell us the pros and cons of PAGING and Do we need to use it for our scenario? I appreciate your help..
Nirmit
I have bought a new Server ( HP Proliant DL 380 G5, 4 GB Memory, Dual Processor). Have 2 Raids ( RAID 10 on 2 HD for OS & RAID 5 on 4 HD for Data) . I have Windows 2000 SP 4 installed. The Server would function as QAS Server for SAP. My coworker (SAP Basis) wants to do PAGING (increase) for each Partition ( We have C Drive is :, D, E, F & G...C Drive is the bootable Drive) My argument is since there is RAID going on (Data being distributed through out the HD) and We have good enough Memory. It should be avoided. However, My knowledge about Paging is not that much nor is his.. Can you please tell us the pros and cons of PAGING and Do we need to use it for our scenario? I appreciate your help..
Nirmit
are you talking about virtual memory? if so, usually only when you don't have enough disk space on C: drive will you think of move them onto other drive. And only when you don't have enough RAM will you increase the size of the virtual memory.
ASKER
Hi..Yes I am talking about Virtual Memory. If I move it despite of having enough Memory, is there a down side? I read somewhere that if There's RAID 1 & RAID 5, it should be avoided.
You can move it to other drives if you really don't want it on C. Down side would be if that drive is not accessible by OS somehow and the system is looking for virtual memory, your system may crash. But this is true to every drive.
I don't think which RAID level matters, but it's better to have a page file on each PHYSICAL drive/array that is available to OS.
I don't think which RAID level matters, but it's better to have a page file on each PHYSICAL drive/array that is available to OS.
ASKER
So Should I be Using it for QAS Server ? Should I be increasing my C Drive Memory, even if we have 4 GB? Also, It was mentioned in this article about RAID Drives,
"Avoid putting a paging file on a fault-tolerant drive, such as a mirrored volume (RAID-1) or a RAID-5 volume. Paging files do not need fault-tolerance, and some fault-tolerant systems suffer from slow data writes because they write data to multiple locations. "
"Avoid putting a paging file on a fault-tolerant drive, such as a mirrored volume (RAID-1) or a RAID-5 volume. Paging files do not need fault-tolerance, and some fault-tolerant systems suffer from slow data writes because they write data to multiple locations. "
I don't know what is QAS server, so cannot comment on whether 4G is enough or not. As long as your virtual memory size is set to 1-2 times of your RAM size, you should be OK.
Regarding RAID, You will always have some sort of RAID when you configure a server, so the page file will always reside on a RAID drive. That's why I said which level of RAID doesn't really matter.
Regarding RAID, You will always have some sort of RAID when you configure a server, so the page file will always reside on a RAID drive. That's why I said which level of RAID doesn't really matter.
ASKER
I understand.. Last question..We have our C drive which is the bootable drive and where our SQL Server & SAP application is installed. The other Partitions are only data and logs. Should I be giving max Virtual memory to C drive or should it be evenly distributed or Should i not touch anythign and monitor to check how the server first functions and holds the load?
nirmit
nirmit
I would leave everything as default and monitor the page file usage closely if you think that is a problem/concern. If you really want to adjust, I would try evenly put them on different drives (but not every logical drive, just every physical arrary)
ASKER
Oh ok..WEll I have 2 arrays that i built ..One has the C Drive (consist of 2 HD & RAID 1+0) and Another Arrary has 4 HD having RAID 5 ( the logical partitions are D, E, F & G) So you suggest putting equally on each of them?
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Paging should be done to the disk least used. Not the partition least used. You are probably best off splitting it between C: and D:
ASKER
Oh ok..Thanks Guys