Asignment: Analyzing Virtual Memory
I configured the top command so that the following fields were displayed in the output:
• PID
• USER
• VIRT
• RES
• SHR
• %MEM
• SWAP
• CODE
• DATA COMMAND
I sorted the output by %MEM
1) Explain the output from the entire line that starts with Mem: at the top of the Screen.
2) Explain the output from the entire line that starts with Swap: at the top of the Screen.
3) For the topmost process (If sorted correctly, this will be the one using the most memory) - give the data values and the meaning behind the value in each column.
4) For the process from #3 above, describe the relationship between the values reported in the "VIRT" "RES" and "SWAP" columns. Does this relationship indicate LINUX may be using demand paging? Why or why not?
Using the vmstat command, I ran the command so that the virtual memory statistics are captured once per second with a total of 10 samples.
5) What was the command used?
6) What is average value of the "swpd" field and what does that mean?
7) What is the size of the "free" list and what does that mean?
8) Out of the 10 seconds sampled, how many of them had swapping activity? How can you tell and what was the activity?
9) Do the values in your findings above indicate any kind of performance problem such as thrashing or the need for more physical memory? Explain.
I opened up several applications and left them opened while I recorded new values.
10) Document before and after values and create a summary documenting the changes you noticed (i.e. The effect of running applications on performance as verified through your performance analysis). Make a recommendation to add resources or change system parameters as necessary to increase performance under heavy loads. Be sure to use your data values to back up your recommendation(s) if any.
Attachment:- Assignment_Analyzing_Virtual_Memory.pdf