On Tue, 12 Sep 2006, Mark Maybee wrote:
> Thomas Burns wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > We have been using zfs for a couple of months now, and, overall, really
> > like it. However, we have run into a major problem -- zfs's memory
> > requirements
> > crowd out our primary application. Ultimately, we have to reboot the
> > machine
> > so there is enough free memory to start the application.
> >
> > What I would like is:
> >
> > 1) A way to limit the size of the cache (a gig or two would be fine for
> > us)
> >
> > 2) A way to clear the caches -- hopefully, something faster than rebooting
> > the machine.
> >
> > Is there any way I can do either of these things?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Tom Burns
>
> Tom,
>
> What version of solaris are you running? In theory, ZFS should not
> be hogging your system memory to the point that it crowds out your
> primary applications... but this is still an area that we are working
> out the kinks in. If you could provide a core dump of the machine
> when it gets to the point that you can't start your app, it would
> help us.
>
> As to your questions; I will give you some ways to do these things,
> but these are not considered best practice:
>
> 1) You should be able to limit your cache max size by setting
> arc.c_max. Its currently initialized to be phys-mem-size - 1GB.
>
> 2) First try unmount/remounting your file system to clear the
> cache. If that doesn't work, try exporting/importing your pool.
Another nasty and risky workaround is to start making copies of a large
file in /tmp while watching your available swap space carefully. When you
hit the low memory water mark, ZFS will free up a snitload (technical term
(TM)) of memory. Then immediately rm all the files you created in /tmp.
You don't want to completely exhaust memory or you'll probably loose the
system.
Remember my first line: "nasty and risky".
Regards,
Al Hopper Logical Approach Inc, Plano, TX. [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Voice: 972.379.2133 Fax: 972.379.2134 Timezone: US CDT
OpenSolaris.Org Community Advisory Board (CAB) Member - Apr 2005
OpenSolaris Governing Board (OGB) Member - Feb 2006
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