RE: Memory problems with 7.12UC1 and Dec Unix 4.0a

I don't really have enough info to tell you exactly whats wrong but I have had experience with system taking to much memory. We corrected the problem by setting the SHMMAX value from 0 to <x> where x is some amount of memory that will not bring the machine to max usage... This is just a brief description for more info look at you admin book for stuff about SHMMAX.... Russ.... }---------- }From: tharter@intake.rhombus.net[SMTP:tharter@intake.rhombus.net] }Sent: Thursday, February 20, 1997 8:21 AM }To: informix-list@rmy.emory.edu }Subject: Memory problems with 7.12UC1 and Dec Unix 4.0a } }I have a serious problem with On-line Dynamic Server }7.12UC1 running on Dec Unix 4.0a. The system has 128 megs }of physical memory and Informix is running it into the ground }after about 4 hours of operation. } }The scenario is as follows: } }I have an Alpha running the database server. There is one database }on the system with 14 tables in it. One of the tables has about }500 records in it, the rest no more than about 20 or so records. The }big table is static, the data in it virtually never changes. The }other }tables change constantly, with all the data turning over at least }daily. }The whole thing is running behind a Web server running }Livewire/Netscape }Enterprise Server on a seperate machine. The Web server establishes }3-4 }connections to the database which remain open as long as the system is }up. } }The problem is Informix just grows without bound. While a ps -Al will }show }perhaps 10-20 megs in use between the various oninits which are }running, vmstat }shows a system totally starved of virtual memory, as does the system }log, and the }online.log file. At this point Informix stops processing queries due }to }insufficient virtual memory and must be shut down. Downing and }reupping }Informix restores the system to normal operation. } }I just don't understand this. The system has only a very small amount }of data }in it, and the number of queries being made seems modest, probably on }the order }of a few hundred per hour. Some of the queries are 2 and 3 table }joins, but I }really can't see that this is in any way a demanding application. I }have yet to }see CPU use exceed 2%, and its only a 166mhz system, not a high-end }machine. }Obviously there is a bug or configuration problem here! } }I would really appreciate anything anyone could tell me about this }problem. I'm }a software guy, not a DBA, so maybe this problem has an obvious }solution and I }don't know it? Thanks in Advance. }Tod Harter }Director of Internet Development }Rhombus Communications, Inc. }tharter@intake.rhombus.net } }