hello,
physically I have 8GB RAM in a dell server running windows 2003 server R2
and SQL 2008 server. The OS only sees 4GB and SQL only uses 2 GB. I
recently found out I need to be using either 64bit, enterprise or data
center versions to access >4GB of ram but there should be no reason for me
not to use 3 of the 4GB for SQL. I have enabled /3GB after the fastdetect
line in boot.ini but SQL still uses only 2 GB. I checked the max-memory
setting and its at the default 2billion+ MB.

does anyone know of any other reason that SQL server won't use more than
1.8-2 GB? this box has only 2 other apps running which use less than 50 MB
combined.

Leon

With 8GB of memory available, I would recommend that you remove /3GB and add
in /PAE instead. PAE will allow the OS the ability to see all of the memory
available - then, you can set the max memory for SQL Server to 6GB and SQL
Server will use that.

"Leon McCalla" <leonmccalla (AT) remove (DOT) hotmail.com> wrote

Leon,

Well you didn't say what editions of SQL Server or the OS you have so we
have no idea what you are capable of using. You don't need 64 bit although
it would be preferred and you don't need Datacenter or possibly EE either.
SQL Standard edition will use all 8GB if the OS sees it. You may need to add
the /PAE switch for the OS to get it to see it. Then you will need to turn
on AWE for SQL Server to see it.

--

Andrew J. Kelly SQL MVP
Solid Quality Mentors

"Leon McCalla" <leonmccalla (AT) remove (DOT) hotmail.com> wrote

32bit windows 2003 server is limited to 4Gb. this is why my focus is on the
/3GB switch.

Leon


"Jeffrey Williams" <jeff.williams3188 (AT) verizon (DOT) net> wrote

Im using SQL 2008 developer edition on 32bit windows 2003 server R2. I know
the OS is limited to 4Gb. This is why i'm asking about the /3GB switch. Is
it possible that the dev edition is limited to 2 GB as well?.

Leon


"Andrew J. Kelly" <sqlmvpnooospam (AT) shadhawk (DOT) com> wrote

The yes adding the /3GB switch will give you an extra 1GB for SQL Server.

--

Andrew J. Kelly SQL MVP
Solid Quality Mentors

"Leon McCalla" <leonmccalla (AT) remove (DOT) hotmail.com> wrote

Well, you didn't say which version of 2003 you are using. Standard Edition
is limited to 4GB - but you stated you have installed 8GB. With 8GB
installed - to use the additional memory with Standard Edition you have to
use x64.

So, your options are:

x86 set /3GB and remove 4GB of memory from server - it's wasted anyways.
x64 access all of the available memory and don't have to worry about /PAE
or /3GB

Note: if you use x64 and install SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition you want
to apply the latest service packs and cumulative updates. That way you can
set the lock pages in memory option and it will work.

Jeff

"Leon McCalla" <leonmccalla (AT) remove (DOT) hotmail.com> wrote