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Hi,
is there a way to free up unused memory? I don't know why, but I've been having this problem for the past few days... check this out:
Code:
# ...
- 02-18-2009 #1Just Joined!
- Join Date
- Aug 2007
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- South Africa
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- 52
Memory issue
Hi,
is there a way to free up unused memory? I don't know why, but I've been having this problem for the past few days... check this out:
Code:# free total used free shared buffers cached Mem: 2075180 1996692 78488 0 585040 1041496 -/+ buffers/cache: 370156 1705024 Swap: 16466616 36 16466580Why does it say 2GB of memory is being used if no process is using it??Code:# ps -e v PID TTY STAT TIME MAJFL TRS DRS RSS %MEM COMMAND 1 ? Ss 0:01 6 535 236 324 0.0 init [5] 2 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [kthreadd] 3 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [migration/0] 4 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [ksoftirqd/0] 5 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [migration/1] 6 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [ksoftirqd/1] 7 ? S< 0:01 0 0 0 0 0.0 [events/0] 8 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [events/1] 9 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [khelper] 10 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [kblockd/0] 11 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [kblockd/1] 12 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [kacpid] 13 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [kacpi_notify] 14 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [cqueue] 15 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [kseriod] 16 ? S< 0:10 0 0 0 0 0.0 [kondemand/0] 17 ? S< 0:01 0 0 0 0 0.0 [kondemand/1] 18 ? S 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [pdflush] 19 ? S 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [pdflush] 20 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [kswapd0] 21 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [aio/0] 22 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [aio/1] 23 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [kpsmoused] 70 ? S< 0:01 0 0 0 0 0.0 [ata/0] 71 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [ata/1] 72 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [ata_aux] 75 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [scsi_eh_0] 76 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [scsi_eh_1] 77 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [scsi_eh_2] 78 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [scsi_eh_3] 82 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [scsi_eh_4] 83 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [scsi_eh_5] 286 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [ksuspend_usbd] 340 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [khubd] 577 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [kjournald] 641 ? S<s 0:00 0 72 2451 1196 0.0 /sbin/udevd --daemon 1134 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [khpsbpkt] 1222 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [btaddconn] 1224 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [btdelconn] 1255 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [knodemgrd_0] 1464 ? S<s 0:00 10 264 3067 1756 0.0 /usr/sbin/hcid -x -s -f 1486 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [krfcommd] 1513 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [kauditd] 1527 ? S< 0:00 0 0 0 0 0.0 [kstriped] 1633 ? Ss 1:19 0 33 2450 1192 0.0 /sbin/mount.ntfs-3g /de 1636 ? Ss 0:01 0 33 2606 1220 0.0 /sbin/mount.ntfs-3g /de 1639 ? Ss 0:00 0 33 2450 1000 0.0 /sbin/mount.ntfs-3g /de 1957 ? Ss 0:00 0 268 2143 1016 0.0 /bin/dbus-daemon --syst 1970 ? Ss 0:00 0 29 1886 672 0.0 /sbin/resmgrd 1984 ? Ss 0:00 0 127 2072 736 0.0 /sbin/syslog-ng 1987 ? Ss 0:00 0 22 1777 588 0.0 /sbin/klogd -c 1 -x 1997 ? Ss 0:00 0 15 1648 572 0.0 /sbin/acpid 2012 ? Ssl 0:00 0 108 7643 2388 0.1 /usr/sbin/console-kit-d 2208 ? Ss 0:00 23 319 6008 4332 0.2 /usr/sbin/hald --daemon 2209 ? S 0:00 0 11 3208 1104 0.0 hald-runner 2330 ? S 0:01 1 14 3317 1080 0.0 hald-addon-input: Liste 2346 ? S 0:00 1 26 3317 1248 0.0 /usr/lib/hal/hald-addon 2347 ? S 0:00 0 8 2195 948 0.0 hald-addon-acpi: listen 2358 ? S 0:06 1 17 3318 1180 0.0 hald-addon-storage: pol 2915 ? Ss 0:00 0 140 3447 696 0.0 /usr/bin/kdm 2945 tty7 SLs+ 28:59 1 1647 141344 62664 3.0 /usr/bin/Xorg -br -nol 2950 ? S 0:00 0 140 4095 1716 0.0 -:0 2965 ? Ss 0:00 0 13 1682 452 0.0 /sbin/portmap 2981 ? Ss 0:00 2 1890 6317 1712 0.0 /usr/sbin/nmbd -D -s /e 3213 ? Ss 0:00 0 623 3636 1488 0.0 /bin/sh /opt/kde3/bin/s 3323 ? S<sl 0:00 0 99 10148 712 0.0 /sbin/auditd -s disable 3325 ? S<sl 0:00 1 68 9935 716 0.0 /sbin/audispd 3362 ? Ss 0:00 0 99 3176 1640 0.0 avahi-daemon: running [ 3477 ? Ss 0:00 6 374 7213 3008 0.1 /usr/sbin/cupsd 3503 ? Ss 0:00 0 399 5929 1104 0.0 /usr/sbin/sshd -o PidFi 3507 ? Ss 0:00 0 11 1812 572 0.0 /usr/sbin/avahi-dnsconf 3509 ? S 0:00 0 161 4438 1664 0.0 /usr/sbin/powersaved -d 3527 ? Ss 0:00 12 5707 9196 3144 0.1 /usr/sbin/smbd -D -s /e 3591 ? S 0:00 0 4 1511 148 0.0 start_kdeinit --new-sta 3604 ? Ss 0:00 1 39 25500 6084 0.2 kdeinit Running... 3612 ? S 0:00 0 39 24752 2756 0.1 dcopserver [kdeinit] -- 3624 ? S 0:00 42 39 27832 6336 0.3 klauncher [kdeinit] --n 3626 ? S 0:00 0 87 8432 1768 0.0 /usr/sbin/libvirtd -d 3627 ? Ss 0:00 0 27 6524 1768 0.0 /usr/lib/postfix/master 3648 ? S 0:00 0 5707 9152 1028 0.0 /usr/sbin/smbd -D -s /e 3651 ? S 0:00 1 50 6345 1736 0.0 qmgr -l -t fifo -u 3653 ? Ss 0:00 0 37 2022 608 0.0 /usr/sbin/cron 3669 ? S 0:01 34 39 34816 14604 0.7 kded [kdeinit] --new-st 3772 ? S 0:00 0 259 3096 716 0.0 /usr/sbin/smartd 3975 ? S 0:00 0 8 1643 368 0.0 kwrapper ksmserver 3978 ? S 0:00 3 39 27724 8300 0.3 ksmserver [kdeinit] 4018 tty1 Ss+ 0:00 0 15 2136 652 0.0 /sbin/mingetty --noclea 4019 tty2 Ss+ 0:00 0 15 2136 632 0.0 /sbin/mingetty tty2 4020 tty3 Ss+ 0:00 1 15 2136 628 0.0 /sbin/mingetty tty3 4026 tty4 Ss+ 0:00 0 15 2136 628 0.0 /sbin/mingetty tty4 4030 tty5 Ss+ 0:00 0 15 2136 624 0.0 /sbin/mingetty tty5 4035 tty6 Ss+ 0:00 0 15 2136 624 0.0 /sbin/mingetty tty6 4118 ? S 0:03 28 39 34716 14904 0.7 kdesktop [kdeinit] 4120 ? S 0:16 36 39 38396 17400 0.8 kicker [kdeinit] 4128 ? Rl 33:05 14 143 151236 55036 2.6 amarokapp -session 101 4130 ? S 0:00 13 1 86554 14212 0.6 /usr/bin/python /usr/bi 4142 ? S 0:00 1 39 45676 9864 0.4 knotify [kdeinit] 4144 ? S 0:00 1 1 28362 15128 0.7 python /usr/share/scree 4145 ? SNl 0:14 124 1872 73387 25764 1.2 beagled /usr/lib/beagle 4151 ? S 0:01 0 39 28728 9504 0.4 klipper [kdeinit] 4153 ? S 0:00 0 39 30944 12256 0.5 kmix [kdeinit] -autosta 4156 ? S 0:00 1 39 30644 10680 0.5 kpowersave [kdeinit] 4163 ? S 0:00 1 165 28494 11980 0.5 kbluetooth 4264 ? S 0:00 0 20 3299 752 0.0 dbus-launch --autolaunc 4265 ? Ss 0:00 0 268 2223 600 0.0 /bin/dbus-daemon --fork 4272 ? SL 5:55 1 204 48603 33680 1.6 compiz --replace --sm-d 4281 ? Ss 0:21 2 73 18286 10088 0.4 emerald --replace 4291 ? S 0:00 0 1 3822 2296 0.1 ruby /opt/kde3/share/ap 8059 ? S 0:14 20 39 62528 44496 2.1 konqueror [kdeinit] -mi 8199 ? S 0:00 1 39 31540 11316 0.5 kio_uiserver [kdeinit] 8703 ? S 0:08 34 39 64708 32328 1.5 konqueror [kdeinit] -mi 8710 ? S 0:00 0 39 25900 4820 0.2 kio_file [kdeinit] file 8817 ? S 0:00 0 7 5828 1804 0.0 pickup -l -t fifo -u 9297 ? Ssl 0:14 2 538 64357 16348 0.7 ksysguard --showprocess 9298 ? S 0:06 0 112 3699 1540 0.0 ksysguardd 9313 ? S 0:00 0 39 25924 4816 0.2 kio_file [kdeinit] file 9315 ? S 0:00 0 39 25792 4760 0.2 kio_file [kdeinit] file 9319 ? SN 0:00 0 39 30444 9332 0.4 kio_thumbnail [kdeinit] 9345 ? S 0:00 0 623 3372 1376 0.0 /bin/sh /usr/bin/firefo 9350 ? Sl 0:14 0 24 172427 78824 3.7 /usr/lib/firefox/firef 9352 ? S 0:00 0 48 5151 2324 0.1 /usr/lib/GConf/2/gconfd 9377 ? Sl 0:00 0 92 65519 10224 0.4 /usr/lib/nspluginwrappe 9407 ? S 0:00 0 39 33436 14124 0.6 konsole [kdeinit] --typ 9408 pts/1 Ss 0:00 0 623 4108 2120 0.1 bash 9416 pts/1 S 0:00 0 25 3766 1500 0.0 su 9419 pts/1 S 0:00 0 623 3848 2076 0.1 bash 9430 ? S 0:00 0 39 25924 4784 0.2 kio_file [kdeinit] file 9438 pts/1 R+ 0:00 0 98 2269 792 0.0 ps -e v
here's more info if you need it:
# cat /proc/meminfo
MemTotal: 2075180 kB
MemFree: 78028 kB
Buffers: 585100 kB
Cached: 1041488 kB
SwapCached: 36 kB
Active: 513332 kB
Inactive: 1378564 kB
HighTotal: 1179584 kB
HighFree: 1736 kB
LowTotal: 895596 kB
LowFree: 76292 kB
SwapTotal: 16466616 kB
SwapFree: 16466580 kB
Dirty: 76 kB
Writeback: 0 kB
AnonPages: 265372 kB
Mapped: 100400 kB
Slab: 67028 kB
SReclaimable: 51272 kB
SUnreclaim: 15756 kB
PageTables: 3916 kB
NFS_Unstable: 0 kB
Bounce: 0 kB
CommitLimit: 17504204 kB
Committed_AS: 599828 kB
VmallocTotal: 110584 kB
VmallocUsed: 64940 kB
VmallocChunk: 39412 kB
HugePages_Total: 0
HugePages_Free: 0
HugePages_Rsvd: 0
HugePages_Surp: 0
Hugepagesize: 2048 kB
# uname -r
2.6.25.5-1.1-pae
# uptime
6:47pm up 17:46, 3 users, load average: 0.60, 0.55, 0.33
- 02-18-2009 #2Linux Guru
- Join Date
- Nov 2007
- Posts
- 1,695
You are using ~360MB (370156 KB). The rest is cache and buffers. You can Google for how Linux uses RAM to increase performance through cache/buffers. Most *Nixes have done this for a long time - MSFT has changed memory management in Vista and 2008 to do the same as well.Code:# free total used free shared buffers cached Mem: 2075180 1996692 78488 0 585040 1041496 -/+ buffers/cache: 370156 1705024 Swap: 16466616 36 16466580
- 02-18-2009 #3Just Joined!
- Join Date
- Aug 2007
- Location
- South Africa
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- 52
Hi, thanks for replying.
Ok, that makes sense, but It's quite irritating though because videos in mplayer stutter a bit when there's no RAM left.
Anyways, I ran the following commands to free the cache (I know it's probably stupid):
#sync
#echo 3 > /proc/sys/vm/drop_caches
that sorts the mplayer problem without restarting, so I'm happy.
Thanks again!
- 02-19-2009 #4Linux Guru
- Join Date
- Oct 2006
- Location
- West (by God) Virginia
- Posts
- 3,105
Have you tried another player? I like Kaffine. Generally I have no problem with this since Linux allocates and deallocates caches as needed. Linux will use most memory available for caches.
- 02-19-2009 #5Just Joined!
- Join Date
- Aug 2007
- Location
- South Africa
- Posts
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I'll try kaffeine next time I have this problem. thanks!
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