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How to understand the memory usage and load average in linux server
I'm running Debian and I'm wondering why so much of my memory is being used (8GB of the 8GB)
Is there any way I can check and see why so much RAM is being used?
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3 Answers
Linux uses a lot of RAM for cache. Please check the output of free -m to see how much you actually have free.
For example, look at the line at "-/+ buffers/cache under free vs. the "Mem" line free.
$ free -m total used free shared buffers cached Mem: 12040 11904 136 0 418 9641 -/+ buffers/cache: 1844 10195 Swap: 22889 0 22889 Also, check out http://www.linuxatemyram.com/
You haven't posted any details (say, for instance, the output of $ free -m), but I'm 99% certain most of that is being used by the kernel for a disk read cache. Memory being used this way is instantly released to any applications that request it. More info on this below.
Regardless of the operating system, memory that isn't being used is memory you wasted good money purchasing. A modern operating system will try and use as much memory as possible to keep recently used (and likely to be used again) items in memory for fast access.
Caching stuff like this into memory that isn't currently needed for other things and freeing it up when a better use for it comes along is what makes your system perform so well.
