high memory usage in slackware 10

Prism · 08-31-2004, 04:00 PM

I've noticed recently that slackware seems to be using a lot of memory, i even switched to xfce from kde (because apparently kde is "bloated") every few hours kde used to pause for 10/15 seconds.

Anyway I'm still having high memory usage, see below...

Code:

bash-2.05b$ free
             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:        385716     296260      89456          0      81476     129208
-/+ buffers/cache:      85576     300140
Swap:       987956          0     987956
bash-2.05b$

the only applications running are mozilla and konsole...

here's the results of "ps -aux"

Code:

bash-2.05b$ ps -aux
USER       PID %CPU %MEM   VSZ  RSS TTY      STAT START   TIME COMMAND
root         1  0.0  0.0   480  240 ?        S    18:19   0:04 init [3]
root         2  0.0  0.0     0    0 ?        S    18:19   0:00 [keventd]
root         3  0.0  0.0     0    0 ?        SN   18:19   0:00 [ksoftirqd_CPU0]
root         4  0.0  0.0     0    0 ?        S    18:19   0:00 [kswapd]
root         5  0.0  0.0     0    0 ?        S    18:19   0:00 [bdflush]
root         6  0.0  0.0     0    0 ?        S    18:19   0:00 [kupdated]
root        10  0.0  0.0     0    0 ?        S<   18:19   0:00 [mdrecoveryd]
root        11  0.0  0.0     0    0 ?        S    18:19   0:00 [kjournald]
root        37  0.0  0.0     0    0 ?        S    18:19   0:00 [khubd]
root        59  0.0  0.0     0    0 ?        S    18:19   0:00 [usb-storage-0]
root        61  0.0  0.0     0    0 ?        S    18:19   0:00 [scsi_eh_1]
root        69  0.0  0.1  1404  592 ?        Ss   18:19   0:00 /usr/sbin/syslogd
root        72  0.0  0.1  1344  448 ?        Ss   18:19   0:00 /usr/sbin/klogd -c 3 -x
root       104  0.0  0.1  1372  512 ?        Ss   18:19   0:00 /sbin/dhcpcd -d -t 10 eth0
root       130  0.0  0.1  1376  520 ?        Ss   18:19   0:00 /usr/sbin/inetd
root       133  0.0  0.3  3140 1408 ?        Ss   18:19   0:00 /usr/sbin/sshd
root       144  0.0  0.1  1460  564 ?        S    18:19   0:00 /usr/sbin/crond -l10
daemon     146  0.0  0.1  1464  616 ?        Ss   18:19   0:00 /usr/sbin/atd -b 15 -l 1
root       149  0.0  0.5  4900 2108 ?        Ss   18:19   0:00 sendmail: accepting connections
smmsp      152  0.0  0.5  4788 1944 ?        Ss   18:19   0:00 sendmail: Queue runner@00:25:00 fo
root       162  0.0  0.1  1392  512 ?        Ss   18:19   0:00 /usr/sbin/gpm -m /dev/mouse -t imp
prism       164  0.0  0.3  2660 1540 tty1     Ss   18:19   0:00 -bash
root       165  0.0  0.1  1336  468 tty2     Ss+  18:19   0:00 /sbin/agetty 38400 tty2 linux
root       166  0.0  0.1  1336  468 tty3     Ss+  18:19   0:00 /sbin/agetty 38400 tty3 linux
root       167  0.0  0.1  1336  468 tty4     Ss+  18:19   0:00 /sbin/agetty 38400 tty4 linux
root       168  0.0  0.1  1336  468 tty5     Ss+  18:19   0:00 /sbin/agetty 38400 tty5 linux
root       169  0.0  0.1  1336  468 tty6     Ss+  18:19   0:00 /sbin/agetty 38400 tty6 linux
prism       180  0.0  0.3  2376 1208 tty1     S+   18:19   0:00 /bin/sh /usr/X11R6/bin/startx
prism       192  0.0  0.1  2156  628 tty1     S+   18:19   0:00 xinit /home/paul/.xinitrc --
root       193  6.8  5.3 57072 20632 ?       S    18:19  14:15 X :0
prism       197  0.0  0.3  2372 1188 tty1     S    18:19   0:00 sh /home/paul/.xinitrc
prism      200  0.0  0.3  2368 1184 tty1     S    18:19   0:00 sh /home/paul/.xinitrc
prism       202  0.0  0.5  3616 1944 tty1     S    18:19   0:01 xscreensaver -no-splash
prism       205  0.0  2.1 13480 8112 ?        Ss   18:19   0:02 xfce-mcs-manager
prism       207  0.0  1.3  9612 5060 tty1     S    18:19   0:03 xfwm4 --daemon
prism       208  0.0  1.4 10336 5764 tty1     S    18:19   0:05 xftaskbar4
prism       209  0.0  1.6 11580 6448 tty1     S    18:19   0:03 xfdesktop
prism       210  0.0  1.1  9640 4516 tty1     S    18:19   0:00 xfcalendar
prism       212  0.1  2.2 13868 8840 tty1     S    18:19   0:14 /usr/bin/xfce4-panel
prism       348  0.0  1.5  9816 6084 ?        S    19:07   0:00 /opt/kde/bin/artsd -F 10 -S 4096 -
prism       666  0.0  0.3  2396 1260 tty1     S    21:43   0:00 /bin/sh /usr/bin/mozilla -splash
prism       670  0.0  0.3  2432 1272 tty1     S    21:43   0:00 /bin/sh /usr/lib/mozilla-1.7/run-m
prism       675  4.5  8.7 63868 33928 tty1    S    21:43   0:14 /usr/lib/mozilla-1.7/mozilla-bin -
prism       677  0.0  8.7 63868 33928 tty1    S    21:43   0:00 /usr/lib/mozilla-1.7/mozilla-bin -
prism       678  0.0  8.7 63868 33928 tty1    S    21:43   0:00 /usr/lib/mozilla-1.7/mozilla-bin -
prism       680  0.0  0.5  3972 2260 tty1     S    21:43   0:00 /usr/libexec/gconfd-2 22
prism       681  0.0  8.7 63868 33928 tty1    S    21:43   0:00 /usr/lib/mozilla-1.7/mozilla-bin -
prism       687  0.2  3.8 25908 14900 tty1    S    21:44   0:00 konsole
prism       689  0.0  2.4 21708 9496 ?        Ss   21:44   0:00 kdeinit: Running...
prism       692  0.0  2.5 22056 9936 ?        S    21:44   0:00 kdeinit: dcopserver --nosid --suic
prism       694  0.0  2.6 22112 10316 ?       S    21:44   0:00 kdeinit: klauncher
prism       696  0.1  3.3 23336 12968 ?       S    21:44   0:00 kdeinit: kded
prism       699  0.0  0.3  2620 1468 pts/0    Ss+  21:44   0:00 /bin/bash
prism       736  0.0  8.7 63868 33928 tty1    S    21:48   0:00 /usr/lib/mozilla-1.7/mozilla-bin -
prism       737  0.0  8.7 63868 33928 tty1    S    21:48   0:00 /usr/lib/mozilla-1.7/mozilla-bin -
prism       738  0.0  8.7 63868 33928 tty1    S    21:48   0:00 /usr/lib/mozilla-1.7/mozilla-bin -
prism       739  0.0  8.7 63868 33928 tty1    S    21:48   0:00 /usr/lib/mozilla-1.7/mozilla-bin -
prism       743  3.7  3.7 25704 14584 tty1    R    21:48   0:00 konsole
prism       744  0.2  0.3  2616 1464 pts/1    Ss   21:48   0:00 /bin/bash
prism       748  0.0  0.2  2280  796 pts/1    R+   21:48   0:00 ps -aux
bash-2.05b$

The thing i noticed was there are four processes called kdeinit, is there any reason for these to be running, also is there anything else unusual that could explain the high memory usage? Thanks

marlor · 08-31-2004, 04:20 PM

the real memory used is this:

-/+ buffers/cache: 85576

considering that you are running a lot of programs/deamons it's normal.

the one below:

Mem: 385716 296260

linux keeps stuff in the memory of your most recent used programs/deamons so if it is needed again it can access it quicker. but the 296360 is not the actual used memory. if more memory is needed linux will wipe the older stuff and make use of the ram for the new apps you will run.
so your actual memory use is 85576

Shade · 08-31-2004, 04:23 PM

The moral: Don't get worried about high ram usage until you notice your computer swapping/thrashing at the hard drive.

That's what makes linux faster -- its aggressive caching.

Do a search for many, many, many more topics on this.

--Shade

RommelEr · 08-31-2004, 04:23 PM

I actually posted the same message yesterday. It seems linux takes memory and stores it in cache ram to load up programs you have opened earlier quicker. But when you need that ram it clears up, so when it says over 1/3 or 1/2 of your memory is used in cache it is really freed up memory.

As for the stuttering in KDE I experienced something simular, in the whole screen would free for 10 to 15 seconds with a moment in between where my mouse moved for a split second. I don't remember the solution forthat exactly, but it was posted in the last day or two so you can probably find it somewhere near the top pages.

Hope that helped somewhat

RommelEr · 08-31-2004, 04:24 PM

I was beat twice on that one hehe

marlor · 08-31-2004, 04:32 PM

one other thing, i don't know if you are using all these programs, but you can even lower your memory AND speeding up boot time by disabling the programs/deamons you don't use;

for example: ssh, sendmail, crond, atd

well depends what you are using your machine for

good luck

Prism · 08-31-2004, 04:55 PM

thanks a lot for the input

Linux.tar.gz · 09-01-2004, 05:20 AM

And as long as the swap got the value 0, you don't have to run to buy ram!!

Phathead · 09-01-2004, 11:03 AM

This has GOT to be the most frequently asked question about Linux.

Maybe we need some kind of splash screen in GRUB or LILO explaining how to determine your actual free memory. It could even be a screen you have to click through to sign up for a LinuxQuestions.org account.