PF Usage help

thepoetwarrior · #1 04-18-2008, 12:35 PM

I've noticed that my PF Usage is about 200 when not running EQ Server, and goes up to about 400 just after starting the server, and then within 24 hours its over 1 gig. Is this bad? Why does it slowly go up forever until eventually EQ Server needs reboot?

I had EQ Server on an old PC, but now its on a new PC, but same problem. Here is the new specs with same problem:

Windows Server 2003 Enterprise
2.40 Gighz Quadcore
3 Gig Ram
PF Min/Max both set to 4092 on C:
PF Limit: 7 Gig (Ram + PF Max)
Mem Total: 3 Gig
Mem Avail: 2.5 Gig

Im using the Zone Reset Quest on a Timer in popular zones (Thanks Trevius)

http://www.eqemulator.net/forums/showthread.php?t=24871

Peek times have about 70-80 users online.

I've already done tweak for that ConservativePagefile = 1 thing to limit how much the PF is used, among other tweaks.

Is the PF Usage anything to be concerned about since its growing all the time? Any other tweaks I could do? Does the reset quest just leave the reset zones in the PF without clearing it until I shut down the server? Of which by the way, the PF instantly goes back to 200 when I shut down the EQEmu server.

Thanks in advance for expert advise.

thepoetwarrior · #2 04-24-2008, 03:23 PM

Anyone know?

**cavedude** · #3 04-24-2008, 03:43 PM

There is at least one known memory leak regarding dynamic zones. The best you can do is keep an eye on your server resources, and kill zone processes or reboot the server as necessary.

**trevius** · #4 04-24-2008, 04:42 PM

For whatever reason, windows always uses PF to share some of the ram usage no matter how much ram you have unless you completely disable the PF. With as much ram as you have, disabling the PF might be an option, but if you run out of ram your PC will crash, so it isn't really recommended.

I don't think the PF is anything to worry about. When your server is running a heavy load, the usage will go up no matter what. As long as your performance isn't affected, you should be just fine. I am sure your new PC should be able to handle things much better. Apparently mine has gotten up to 120ish players during peak times lately and it probably only half as powerful as your new one. Of course, since mine isn't too beefy, I have major zone crashing issues until I can figure out how to off load some zones onto a secondary zone server PC.

thepoetwarrior · #5 04-25-2008, 11:39 AM

Thanks Trevius. I noticed the PF continues to grow and grow until I need to reboot. I know windows will always use the PF, just wondering why its always growing and not just taking up the same space the whole time. Soon as I shut off the server, the PF immediately goes back down to 200'ish

**cavedude** · #6 04-25-2008, 12:32 PM

I already posted why above. There is a memory leak in dynamic zones, and it's pretty bad. Meaning, even when they close dynamic zones will continue to slowly use up memory until you either kill the process, or reboot the server. Until it's fixed you have to watch it.

thepoetwarrior · #7 04-25-2008, 09:25 PM

Oh, my bad cavedude, I saw Trevius reply, not yours, but now I see it. Thanks for the information, that helps out a lot. I figured it was a memory leak slowly growing.

Since you specifically stated dynamic zones, does that mean static zones are differnt and would not have a memory leak? Or is it all really the same process?

Thanks for your help and advise cavedude.

**cavedude** · #8 04-26-2008, 07:20 AM

On TGC static zones don't seem to be effected. Wildcardx took a look on his test server a while back and confirmed the same thing... Dynamics will continue to suck down memory, but static zones will use and free it as needed. There have been times I have seen dynamics using upwards of 300MB memory, and often they aren't even booted! So it's something you certainly want to watch, unless you have the resources to run all static, which would be the preferred method anyway.

erik_llewellyn · #9 04-26-2008, 10:06 AM

I did some research last night on Zone memory/CPU usage and came up with this link

http://www.eqemulator.net/forums/sho...ht=zone+memory

Based on his system specs (2x3.4 GHz CPU, 512MB ram, and running win2k pro), I would guestimate total memory usage to load up all 397 zones staticly(based on current PEQ-4-1106 update DB) to be around 3.5~4 GB with 25~30% constant CPU usage and assuming no one is logged into your server. Most people won't have that much physical ram, but pagefile cache can be used to augment it. While using PF "memory" lets you run more than you otherwise would be able to, it is far slower than having as much physical memory as you can get. From what I have noticed on my server (Athlon64 3000+, 1.5 GB ram, 3 GB PF, winXP Pro-32bit) is that a PF cached static zone loads about as fast as a dynamic zone while a ram cached static zone loads about 4x faster.

thepoetwarrior · #10 05-02-2008, 03:33 PM

Thanks much. Info helped a lot.

thepoetwarrior · #11 05-02-2008, 04:12 PM

I successfully got a static zone to boot and saw that in the /server command. Then did #zoneshutdown on it, but the zone stayed down. So I #zone to enter the zone, and it booted up as a dynamic zone.

Any way I can make zones that were shut down to reboot up in static again instead of dynamic? Im using Trevius's zone reset quest. Hope this all makes sense. Thanks for your help in advance.

**trevius** · #12 05-03-2008, 12:54 AM

That is a problem. Anytime a static zone crashes or resets, it will restart in a dynamic zone that is already in idle state waiting for someone to zone in.

I have recently switched to Linux and have completely disabled all of my zone resetter scripts. Apparently player ghosting doesn't happen on Linux at all, and I wasn't able to get someone to actually confirm this until recently. So far, it seems really promising. I used AndMetal's Wiki for a Debian Linux install and some info from one of the other Linux Wikis.

I am going to do another rebuild of Linux on my server PC (it is running on my main PC atm) and I will write some guide additions to help anyone else get things completely setup. The guides available are really great, but there are a couple of nice things that could be added to help some.

If you ever decide to try building a Linux server again, I should be able to give you a hand now, since I have done it a couple of times. Mine is up and running good, but I am still a noob myself lol. I am still working on tweaking the server. So far it seems really nice.

**cavedude** · #13 05-03-2008, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Apparently player ghosting doesn't happen on Linux at all, and I wasn't able to get someone to actually confirm this until recently.

Now I understand why I had no clue what people meant when they were talking about player ghosting

jenco420 · #14 05-03-2008, 10:31 AM

i am thinking of switching to linux for eqemu, i just don't get how dynamics/static zones work on a linux box

thepoetwarrior · #15 05-03-2008, 10:37 AM

Hey Trevius, a guide to install a Linux Server would be great! I've already setup Slackware version of Linux, I think most recent version 12, but didn't know how to install the EQEmu Server. I've now installed EQEmu Server about 4-5x on windows, so I have basic concent of what stuff is actually needed, and what other programs are not needed. I look forward to seeing your guide if you make one!