Microsoft Server 2016 Essentials not all RAM is usable
I have an odd one here on a test setup. I have a test box with a Core2Quad Q6600 CPU and 6G of RAM. I had Windows 7 on it and the RAM was all accessible except for about 0.5G. That seemed reasonable.
I installed Server 2016 Essentials to do some testing and when I look at Control Panel, System it says "6.00 GB (3.24 GB usable)". The System type is "64-bit Operating System" so that shouldn't be the issue.
I understand about how some RAM is used by the onboard video card, for example, but 2.76G seems like way too much!
I added a PCI-x video card with its own RAM, set it as primary, and rebooted. I now have 3.25 GB usable.
How do I determine what is tying up the RAM and keeping Essentials from accessing it?
I installed Server 2016 Essentials to do some testing and when I look at Control Panel, System it says "6.00 GB (3.24 GB usable)". The System type is "64-bit Operating System" so that shouldn't be the issue.
I understand about how some RAM is used by the onboard video card, for example, but 2.76G seems like way too much!
I added a PCI-x video card with its own RAM, set it as primary, and rebooted. I now have 3.25 GB usable.
How do I determine what is tying up the RAM and keeping Essentials from accessing it?
gilnov
How many RAM slots does your server computer have and how are the memory sticks physically arranged in them? Have you ensured that matching sticks are grouped according to the parity scheme of your server's motherboard if that applies?
ASKER
Four slots, 2 2G modules and 2 1G modules. They alternate (2-1-2-1) which I believe pairs them properly.
I'd have had concerns about that if it didn't show that there was 6G present.
I'd have had concerns about that if it didn't show that there was 6G present.
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ASKER
I've found it very difficult to find requirements for Essentials. None of these is ECC nor is ECC supported on this motherboard.
ASKER
From what I've read, ECC is required for it to be a supported installation though it may work anyway. I found it odd that it would limit the RAM because of this.
I'll likely just switch to a VM and test it there.
Thanks for the effort!
I'll likely just switch to a VM and test it there.
Thanks for the effort!
ASKER
Not sure that ECC is really the issue, but this is an appropriate point.
Sorry, what makes anybody here think that ECC is the problem? Of course, we can install any edition with or without ECC, the server does not care. I bet the problem is: you modified the bios and disabled large RAM compatibility (aka "memory hole remapping").
This is what made me think ECC was important:
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server-docs/get-started/system-requirements
Under RAM, minimum requirements, bullet 2 lists ECC
Weird, right?
Granted, these are the system requirements for Windows Server 2016 but I am not able to find any system requirements specifically for Windows Server 2016 Essentials
McKnife makes a good point. Check BIOS settings...or just run in a VM.
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server-docs/get-started/system-requirements
Under RAM, minimum requirements, bullet 2 lists ECC
Weird, right?
Granted, these are the system requirements for Windows Server 2016 but I am not able to find any system requirements specifically for Windows Server 2016 Essentials
McKnife makes a good point. Check BIOS settings...or just run in a VM.
The requirements say "ECC (Error Correcting Code) type or similar technology" - so ECC is not needed but just suggested (normally, servers will be equipped with ECC, if data integrity matters to the admin - it should).
Right, ECC is usually a requirement of be server hardware not Windows.