How do I enable SQL 2005 instance (SE) to access 3 GB of VAS memory?

  • I just went through a previous post on pretty much the same topic, but I'm still confused:

    SQL Server 2005 max memory and /3GB switch

    http://qa.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic412378-146-1.aspx

    Here is my situation:

    OS: Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition Service Pack 2

    RAM: 8 GB

    I want to enable my SQL instance to 'see' 3 GB of VAS (I have 2 other SQL instances on the same box, each limited to 2 GB of VAS).

    The SQL instance in question is on SQL 2005 SP2 (Standard Edn).

    Do I just need to turn on the 3-GB switch and enable AWE?

    __________________________________________________________________________________
    SQL Server 2016 Columnstore Index Enhancements - System Views for Disk-Based Tables[/url]
    Persisting SQL Server Index-Usage Statistics with MERGE[/url]
    Turbocharge Your Database Maintenance With Service Broker: Part 2[/url]

  • Add the /3GB switch in BOOT.ini and enable AWE using SP_Configure...

    MohammedU
    Microsoft SQL Server MVP

  • Here is the MS article...

    How to configure SQL Server to use more than 2 GB of physical memory

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/274750

    MohammedU
    Microsoft SQL Server MVP

  • MohammedU (6/2/2008)


    Here is the MS article...

    How to configure SQL Server to use more than 2 GB of physical memory

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/274750

    Thanks, but that link does not apply in my case (I have SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition):

    from http://support.microsoft.com/kb/274750

    APPLIES TO

    • Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition

    • Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 Standard Edition

    • Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition

    __________________________________________________________________________________
    SQL Server 2016 Columnstore Index Enhancements - System Views for Disk-Based Tables[/url]
    Persisting SQL Server Index-Usage Statistics with MERGE[/url]
    Turbocharge Your Database Maintenance With Service Broker: Part 2[/url]

  • you don't have enough memory and if you enable the /3gb switch all instances will share the 3gb vas. I think there may be some confusion over the bottom memory in x32 - there is only 1 2gb vas and all apps share it, so each instance does not have it's own 2gb of physical memory - the actual memory is allocated through virtual memory and physical memory.

    I'd figure you need to forget the 3gb switch ( I'd really really advise not trying to run three sql servers with only 1 gb ram for the o/s ) just enable awe for each instance and peg max memory at 2gb. If you have a modern server all the memory should be available.

    [font="Comic Sans MS"]The GrumpyOldDBA[/font]
    www.grumpyolddba.co.uk
    http://sqlblogcasts.com/blogs/grumpyolddba/

  • It applies to all Standard edition too but in your case you have many instances...

    How you want to take the advantage of /3GB AND how do you want to configure the SQL memory...

    MohammedU
    Microsoft SQL Server MVP

  • colin Leversuch-Roberts (6/2/2008)


    you don't have enough memory and if you enable the /3gb switch all instances will share the 3gb vas. I think there may be some confusion over the bottom memory in x32 - there is only 1 2gb vas and all apps share it, so each instance does not have it's own 2gb of physical memory - the actual memory is allocated through virtual memory and physical memory.

    I'd figure you need to forget the 3gb switch ( I'd really really advise not trying to run three sql servers with only 1 gb ram for the o/s ) just enable awe for each instance and peg max memory at 2gb. If you have a modern server all the memory should be available.

    Thank you for the response.

    I was thinking of allocating memory as follows:

    instance1: 3 GB

    instance2: 2 GB

    instance3: 2 GB

    OS: 1 GB

    If I'm reading you correctly, leaving the OS with just 1 GB of memory is not advisable in this situation?

    So perhaps I could configure it this way?

    instance1: 3 GB <-- enable AWE for this instance only

    instance2: 2 GB

    instance3: 1 GB

    OS: 2 GB

    Would that work?

    __________________________________________________________________________________
    SQL Server 2016 Columnstore Index Enhancements - System Views for Disk-Based Tables[/url]
    Persisting SQL Server Index-Usage Statistics with MERGE[/url]
    Turbocharge Your Database Maintenance With Service Broker: Part 2[/url]

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