Gradual Increase in memory usage

[Rodolfo J. Paiz]

At 09:13 2/4/2004, you wrote:
>I am not sure if this is a problem with the kernel or due to the nature of
>the programs I am running....
> From a fresh boot, memory usage averages around the 170 MB  and as time
>passes it gradually increases to grab nearly all the available RAM (500MB)

This is a FAQ.

In short: it is not a bad thing. Linux sees free memory, and rather than 
wasting idle resources uses it as disk cache and for buffers. So while the 
memory is being used, it is not /in use/ as far as your interpretation of 
the above. It will be released to applications if/when you need it at a 
moment's notice.

Type the command "free" and read it carefully, especially the second line 
which shows the effect of subtracting the cache/buffers. I'm sure you'll 
find that you are actually using only what you thought.


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Rodolfo J. Paiz
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