VPS memory usage question - memory reading from mem.sh vs free -m commands

**jaguser** · 11-15-2011, 03:14 PM

Hi,

What are the different memory readings mean?

In putty, when I use the command sh /root/mem.sh

-bash-3.2# sh /root/mem.sh
Memory limit...: 512 MB
Current usage..: 116 MB
Burstable Memory...: 2048 MB

Also in ssh using putty, when I use the command "free -m", it shows

-bash-3.2# free -m
total used free shared buffers cached
Mem: 2048 306 1741 0 0 0
-/+ buffers/cache: 306 1741
Swap: 0 0 0

The indirect answers that I got from JPC tech support seem to imply that the memory reading from "free -m" is the memory of the whole system/node. From searching google, it appears that most posts show reading memory usage by using 'free -m' which would give wrong memory readings for VPS's. Is my understanding close to correct?

**the_ancient** · 11-15-2011, 04:36 PM

What VPS Control Panel do you have? SolousVM or Virtuozzo

The only place I have ever been able to get somewhat accurate ram stats is Virtuozzo, Interworx and free -m both report 42GB of memory with 10GB in use, there is no way I am using 10GB on my VPS which is about 100X more than I really need right now.

In your case I would find it hard to believe that the node only has 2048MB of memory, I would start by looking at the resource stats in what ever VPS Management panel you have.

**jaguser** · 11-15-2011, 05:18 PM

my vps is a whm/cpanel/solusVM/centos setup

The solusVM web control panel shows similar memory usage as the ssh 'free -m' output.

As I understand it, the 2048MB is burstable memory, which makes sense for my vps.

What does not make sense is that the WHM/solusVM/free -m memory readings show that an empty VPS uses over 300MB of RAM.

From tech support's nondirect answer, I am assuming that the readings from the above are wrong, and that the mem.sh gives the correct reading of 116MB of RAM memory usage for this "individual" VPS. I am not 100% sure of my understanding, so I just want to hear from the forum users.

IF tech support is correct, then I don't understand why JPC does not convey this information in a prominent place. It is in their best interest, after all, to inform users and potential customers of this "mis-reporting" by the software to save customers a ton of time trying to look up this info, and save the tech support a ton of time trying find and agree on an answer to explain this to every noob customer.

**the_ancient** · 11-15-2011, 06:27 PM

That is about Right, cPanel is a RAM Hog, one of the reason I do not use it.

I would never put cPanel on a Server/VPS with less than 1GB of ram...

**MoreBloodWine** · 12-17-2011, 06:48 PM

Here's what I use to track my memory, one of the JPC staff kindly wrote it up for me. I have it set to a root cron which runs every 6 hrs and emails me the results in the following format.

Code:

Memory Limit...: 1024 MB (Burstable: 2048 MB)
Current Usage..: 228 MB (22%) (Requested: 864 MB)
Free Memory....: 796 MB (78%)

See attachment for the code the cron calls which I have set up like so.

0 */6 * * * sh /root/memuse.sh | mail -s "Current VPS Memory Usage" my@email.com