Virtual Memory

Table of contents :
Background __________________________________________________________ 2 Virtual memory provides many benefits: ___________________________________ 2 Virtual Memory Increase and Optimize Size ________________________________ 3 Virtual Memory Problems ______________________________________________ 4 Virtual Memory Too Low ___________________________________________ 4 Corrupt Page File __________________________________________________ 4 Third Party Software _______________________________________________ 4 Virtual Memory Management____________________________________________ 4 Verify Page File Space Settings __________________________________________ 5 Will Your Computer Benefit from Additional RAM? _________________________ 6 Does Revit need more RAM? ____________________________________________ 7

Virtual Memory

Background

Virtual memory is a feature developed for the kernel of an operating system that simulates additional main memory such as RAM (random access memory) or disc storage. This technique involves the manipulation and management of memory by allowing the loading and execution of larger programs or multiple programs simultaneously. It also allows each program to operate as if it had infinite memory, and is often considered more cost effective than purchasing additional RAM. Virtual memory permits software to use additional memory by utilizing the hard disc drive (HDD) as temporary storage. Most central processing units (CPUs) provide memory management units (MMUs) that support virtual memory. The MMU supports the page tables that are used to transform the real and virtual addresses located in memory and on the HDD. Virtual memory is a technique that allows execution of processes that may not be completely in the physical memory. Virtual Memory gives the illusion of more physical memory than there really is (via demand paging)

Virtual memory provides many benefits:

Only part of the program needs to be in memory for execution. Logical address space can therefore be much larger than physical address space. Allows address spaces to be shared by several processes. Allows for more efficient process creation. Use of virtual memory is also justified for many reasons such as: There may be some code (e.g. error code) that may never be executed.

Arrays, list and tables are often allocated more memory than they actually use. Certain options and features of a program may be used rarely. Virtual memory can be implemented via: Demand paging Demand segmentation

Virtual Memory Increase and Optimize Size

We should know that virtual memory size is more an abstract concept than a spatial reality. But Virtual memory is a computer technique that allows the system to think there is more storage space than there really is, by keeping dormant aspects of running programs on the hard drive and letting multiple applications run simultaneously. Virtual memory is a technique used by the operating system to increase and optimize the power and storage capacity of its working memory, without requiring the installation of additional hardware. In hardware terms, computers are installed with a certain amount of RAM Random Access Memory often 64 or 128 MB. This RAM capacity determines the computers memory capacity and the number of programs it can support at a time. However, in an effort to increase performance, operating systems are programmed to trick themselves, and perceive more available RAM than there actually is. This is done by moving the unused parts of a running program from the RAM to the hard drive, freeing up RAM capacity and allowing more programs to run at the same time. The process of moving unused program parts from the RAM to the hard drive is called swapping. A computer with 64 MB will need at least twice that amount to support the operating system, but is able to run the system plus a number of other applications using virtual memory. The virtual memory is stored in a file called a paging file on the hard drive. When the operating system identifies program files that havent been used recently, it swaps them from the RAM to the virtual memory paging file. Virtual memory size is the amount of data that can be stored on the paging file. If you have received a Windows error informing you that your system is low on virtual memory, you might want to increase your paging file to increase the amount of program data that can be stored there. However, increasing your virtual memory paging file too much will cause too much swapping, a process called thrashing, which will impair overall performance.

Virtual Memory Problems

Virtual Memory Too Low If you keep getting the error message that your virtual memory is too low, this means that you need to increase the initial and maximum number settings for the page file or that there is not enough free disk space. Corrupt Page File Its possible that the page file may become corrupt, possibly during a bad shutdown. To fix this, get into the virtual memory as you did above, set it to No Page File and then exit out of virtual memory. Go to each drive and delete PAGEFILE.SYS (you need to do this for each drive if there is one in more than just drive C). Get back into virtual memory and set it back up the way you had it. Reboot and see if that has solved your corrupt page file problem. Third Party Software There can be issues with some third-party software, particularly older versions of Norton Antivirus, or the Norton Antivirus Live update. You can find a fix for problems with the Live update on the Internet. If you have Norton Antivirus 2004 and have set the maximum page file to more than 1.5 times the RAM, it will automatically be reset to the default value on reboot. Symantec has published instructions on their website for dealing with this issue. Problems with virtual memory can also be caused by an early version of the Intel Application Accelerator. The best way to deal with this if you have it is to uninstall this version and get a newer version from the Intel website Virtual Memory Management A critical factor in the speed and performance of your computer is the amount of Random Access Memory (RAM) that is installed. Even a computer with a fast CPU can run slowly without the proper amount of RAM. When it comes to evaluating the amount of computer memory needed for you to work effectively, you must balance cost and speed. As a result, different types of computer memory are used for different purposes. For example, a hard drive is a slow but inexpensive type of memory. So hard drive memory is ideal for storing massive amounts of program data and information that is not frequently accessed. RAM is a fast and expensive type of memory used to store program information for applications (or processes) that are being run.

In some cases, it is possible that the RAM on your system could be completely utilized. When this happens, the lower priority information stored in RAM is moved to the slower hard drive space (page file space) to create more space in RAM for higher priority information. This process of shuffling data back and forth in order to free up RAM is called paging and this method of managing RAM is referred to as Virtual Memory (VM). VM is measured by combining RAM and page file space. Using VM is faster than storing information on a hard drive, but it is slower than using physical RAM. The more RAM that is installed on a computer, the less likely it is that VM will be used.

Verify Page File Space Settings

To verify page file space settings 1. On the Start menu, click Settings > Control Panel. 2. In Control Panel, double-click System. 3. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Advanced tab.

4. On the Advanced tab, under Performance, click Settings. 5. In the Performance Options dialog box, click the Advanced tab. 6. On the Advanced tab, under Virtual Memory, click Change.

7. In the Virtual Memory dialog box, change the Initial and Max values to 4092.

8. Click Set. 9. Click OK to close each dialog box.

Will Your Computer Benefit from Additional RAM?

1. While working in Revit, right-click on the Windows Task Bar at the bottom of the screen. Click Task Manager.

2. On the Performance tab, under Commit Charge, look at the Peak Number.

This represents the peak amount of RAM that was used since last rebooting your machine (in kilobytes). If this number is higher than the total physical RAM on your system, then your system is using all of the installed RAM as well as the page file space. So if you install more RAM, your system will run faster. Performance checks should be repeated periodically.

Does Revit need more RAM?

1. Open your Revit project and minimize the Revit session. 2. Right-click on the Windows Task Bar at the bottom of the screen. Click Task Manager. 3. In the Windows Task Manager, click on the Processes tab. 4. If the VM Size column is not displayed on the Processes tab, click Select Columns on the View menu. 5. In the Select Columns dialog box, select the Virtual Memory Size check box. Click OK.

6. Sort the processes by clicking on the VM Size column header. Locate the Revit process.

Compare the Revit VM Size to the amount of physical RAM on the computer. If the Revit VM Size is less than the amount of physical RAM on the computer, adding more RAM may (or may not) be beneficial. However, if the Revit VM Size is 1.5GB or it exceeds the amount of physical RAM on the computer, then adding more memory will improve Revit performance.