Memory problem

[Derek Ragona]

At 11:26 AM 11/7/2007, Mario Lobo wrote:
>On Wednesday 07 November 2007, Erik Trulsson wrote:
> > On Wed, Nov 07, 2007 at 11:39:55AM -0300, Mario Lobo wrote:
> > > Hello;
> > >
> > > I'm running a qmailrocks install + DNS server here. Hosting 14 domains
> > > and their respective e-mail accounts. Everything seems to be working
> > > fine.
> > >
> > > The machine is:
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------------
> > > FreeBSD 6.2-STABLE #0: Mon Sep 10 14:15:16 BRT 2007
> > > CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU  6700  @ 2.66GHz (2669.94-MHz K8-class CPU)
> > >   Origin = "GenuineIntel"  Id = 0x6f6  Stepping = 6
> > >   Cores per package: 2
> > > real memory  = 3488481280 (3326 MB)
> > > avail memory = 3362598912 (3206 MB)
> > > FreeBSD/SMP: Multiprocessor System Detected: 2 CPUs
> > >  cpu0 (BSP): APIC ID:  0
> > >  cpu1 (AP): APIC ID:  1
> > > ------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > When I turn the machine on/restart it, it starts off with around 2800 Mb
> > > free memory. I know that, in its course of work, a few of those processes
> > > do not properly return memory back to the system. The machine was last
> > > restarted exactly a week ago (last wednesday). Now 'top' shows me this:
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------------
> > > last pid: 17204;  load averages:  0.00,  0.04,  0.06   up 5+21:00:50
> > > 11:18:58 135 processes: 1 running, 132 sleeping, 2 zombie
> > > CPU states:  0.6% user,  0.0% nice,  0.4% system,  0.2% interrupt, 98.9%
> > > idle Mem: 379M Active, 1915M Inact, 256M Wired, 119M Cache, 214M Buf,
> > > 415M Free Swap: 5120M Total, 5120M Free
> > > ------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > Here are my questions:
> > >
> > > Is this a "normal thing" to happen with memory in just one week?
> >
> > Yes, it is normal and nothing to worry about.
> >
> > > Does the  '1915M Inact'  means "zombie memory" (non-returned)?
> >
> > No.  'Inact[ive]', 'Cache' and 'Free' can all be considered free memory in
> > slighly different states.
> > There are differences between them that can be important in some
> > circumstances, but if you are just trying to determine if you have a memory
> > leak somewhere they can be lumped together,
> >
> > > Is there a manual garbage collector i could run?
> >
> > No.
> >
> > > What is your advise on what method I could use to precisely track down
> > > what program(s) is(are) causing this?
> >
> > My advice is that you ignore it.  It is nothing to worry about.
>
>Ok. Thanks Erik ! Pitty the majordomo cut out the .png file I sent.
>
> > I have seen memory "eaten up" by running anti-virus and mail scanning
> > software particularly if you are not bouncing spam.  I would check your
> > spam handling.
> >
> >         -Derek
>
>Derek, what exactly do you suggest that I should check in the spam handling
>area ?

I would look and see if you are getting a lot of spam to start 
deleting  those emails.  Often trying to reject or do more processing of 
them makes an infinite loop which can really drag a server down.

         -Derek

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