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What is the difference in these threads in Su

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Erik Elsom
2008-07-10
2013-04-16
  • Erik Elsom

    Erik Elsom - 2008-07-10

    I have superkaramba installed, and have been using a memory monitor that I thought was pretty accurate until I installed another one, and now I'm completely confused!

    The theme I was using has this in the string for inquiring what it referes to as 'RAM' sensor=memory format="%umb". I can see it go up and down with program usage, it looked to be pretty accurate.

    This other theme is using sensor=memory format="%um MB" and it's saying I'm using WAY more memory than I thought I was. It also goes up and down in response to running programs.

    Which one is it?

    What is the difference in the returns from
    sensor=memory format="%umb"
    and
    sensor=memory format="%um MB"

    Oh, and as a note, I know neither of these are the swap partition as that is okay on both monitors.

    Also, unfortunately, I can't seem to just type these strings into a terminal as they must be karamba-specific? Or... am I just doing it wrong?

    Am I really going to have to upgrade my memory just because I play Oblivion, COD4, C&C3, and WoW on my Kubuntu box?!! Hee hee!

    Let me know, 'cause now I'm frustrated.

     
    • cloakable

      cloakable - 2008-07-10

      %umb displays your RAM use without including the cache and buffers. That's the amount of memory your programs are using.

      %um displays your RAM use, but doesn't subtract your buffers/cache. For example, right now on my box, programs are using 412MB of 2027, with a 1531MB cache and a 33MB buffer. %umb would display 412, and %um would display 1976.

       
      • Erik Elsom

        Erik Elsom - 2008-07-10

        Cloakable, thanks for your answer. Definitely the most knowledgeable I've seen yet.
        So, Let me get this straight, Linux will store stuff in RAM as cache? So, assuming that I have the same numbers that you were talking about, does this mean that I could actually use all but 412 mb, 'cause the rest is just cache and is dispensible? Interesting concept.
        Pardon my use of the 'W' word, but does Windows do this caching thing with RAM?

        I'm really interested in your answer. Thanks for your help.

        Erik

         
        • cloakable

          cloakable - 2008-07-11

          Yup, as more programs are loaded (and allocate RAM for themselves), the cache will be shrunk. It is an interesting concept, but it does make sense - even the slowest RAM is going to be much, much quicker than your HDD (witness the performance when swapping, for instance).

          It's been a while since I've booted into Windows, but IIRC, WinXP does the same thing. It'll also tuck idle programs into swap to free RAM. Linux keeps all running programs in RAM if possible.

           

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