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HP OpenVMS Systemsask the wizard |
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The Question is:
This is under 7.3, yes I have the real released version up already. Using
Avail 7.3, from the KIT, It reports that all of my 7.3 Systems are missing
their Swapfiles. Am I doing something wrong or is this a feature ? :)
Thanks
Wayne
The Answer is :
If your systems have valid and correctly configured swapfiles, then
this would appear to be a bug in the Availability Manager. Please
contact the Compaq Customer Support Center; expect to be asked details
of the current swapfile configuration.
If your systems have no swapfiles, then the output is appropriate.
This particular configuration would have been made by explicit choice
of the System Manager. See SHOW MEMORY/FILE/FULL for details:
System Memory Resources on 17-APR-2001 10:40:00.63
DISK$SYSDSK:[SYS0.SYSEXE]SWAPFILE.SYS
Free Blocks 9984 Reservable Blocks 9984
Total Size (blocks) 49920 Paging File Number 1
Swap Usage (processes) 39 Paging Usage (processes) 0
This file is used exclusively for swapping.
DISK$SYSDSK:[SYS0.SYSEXE]PAGEFILE.SYS
Free Blocks 3345536 Reservable Blocks 3089664
Total Size (blocks) 3999872 Paging File Number 3
Swap Usage (processes) 0 Paging Usage (processes) 102
This file can be used for either paging or swapping.
A file that is installed as a swapfile is "used exclusively for
swapping", while a pagefile "can be used for either paging or
swapping". The difference involves the organization of the data
structures within the two types of files. The data structures within
the pagefile are optimized for paging, but can provide for swapping
activity. The structures within the swapfile target swapping, and
are ill-suited for paging.
In antiquity, swapping was considered evil and slow and was to be
avoided. Today, swapping processes out is far faster and is often
appropriate for efficient use of physical memory resources. In the
above system, there are a significant number of processes swapped out,
most of which have been idle for extended periods. That these processes
are swapped out leaves more memory for active processes, thus improving
overall system performance. (Had this system been configured without a
swapfile, those processes would have been swapped into the pagefile.)
The OpenVMS Wizard recommends that a system manager track typical paging
and swapping activity, and configure page and swap files appropriately
(makes note to self to boost the swapfile on the above system by 50,000
blocks ;-) The OpenVMS Wizard would also encourage system managers to
be aware of the real, dollar cost of disk space when configuring page
and swap files. US$10 worth of disk space is a very small price to
prevent system problems resulting from insufficient (or inaccessable)
pagefile (or swapfile) storage.
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