[SOLVED] Kubuntu and memory usage

[Yuuki]

Hi,
Today I noticed that when I boot (gutsy gibbon), I have already like 500 MB of memory used (I have 1.5GB).
so that surprised me a little, since my windows xp uses less. (something like 180MB)

When I run, lets say, amarok, konqueror, kopete, konversation, It goes to around 700
I also have a LAMP solution running at startup, but it doesn't take many ressources.

So my question is: KDE (3.5.8) takes THAT much amount of memory ? Am I missing something ?

Here is what ps command says :

yuuki@yuuki:~$ ps -aux
Warning: bad ps syntax, perhaps a bogus '-'? See [url]http://procps.sf.net/faq.html[/url]
USER    PID %CPU %MEM  VSZ  RSS TTY   STAT START  TIME COMMAND
root     1 0.0 0.1  2948 1856 ?    Ss  20:58  0:01 /sbin/init
root     2 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [kthreadd]
root     3 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [migration/0]
root     4 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    SN  20:58  0:00 [ksoftirqd/0]
root     5 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [watchdog/0]
root     6 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [migration/1]
root     7 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    SN  20:58  0:00 [ksoftirqd/1]
root     8 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [watchdog/1]
root     9 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [events/0]
root    10 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [events/1]
root    11 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [khelper]
root    31 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [kblockd/0]
root    32 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [kblockd/1]
root    33 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [kacpid]
root    34 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [kacpi_notify]
root    128 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [kseriod]
root    149 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:01 [kswapd0]
root    200 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [aio/0]
root    201 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [aio/1]
root   2079 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [ksuspend_usbd]
root   2080 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [khubd]
root   2096 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [ata/0]
root   2097 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [ata/1]
root   2098 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [ata_aux]
root   2150 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [khpsbpkt]
root   2207 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [scsi_eh_0]
root   2208 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:01 [scsi_eh_1]
root   2244 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [knodemgrd_0]
root   2520 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [kjournald]
root   2726 0.0 0.0  3036 1384 ?    S<s 20:58  0:00 /sbin/udevd --d
root   3715 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [kedac]
root   3891 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [kgameportd]
root   4105 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [kjournald]
root   4108 0.0 0.0  3792  956 ?    Ss  20:58  0:00 /sbin/mount.ntf
root   4129 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [kjournald]
root   4132 0.3 0.0  3912 1136 ?    Ss  20:58  0:13 /sbin/mount.ntf
root   4372 0.0 0.0  1696  520 tty4   Ss+ 20:58  0:00 /sbin/getty 384
root   4373 0.0 0.0  1696  516 tty5   Ss+ 20:58  0:00 /sbin/getty 384
root   4375 0.0 0.0  1696  520 tty2   Ss+ 20:58  0:00 /sbin/getty 384
root   4377 0.0 0.0  1696  516 tty3   Ss+ 20:58  0:00 /sbin/getty 384
root   4379 0.0 0.0  1692  516 tty1   Ss+ 20:58  0:00 /sbin/getty 384
root   4380 0.0 0.0  1692  512 tty6   Ss+ 20:58  0:00 /sbin/getty 384
root   4566 0.0 0.0  2432 1320 ?    Ss  20:58  0:00 /usr/sbin/acpid
root   4606 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [kondemand/0]
root   4607 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [kondemand/1]
syslog  4691 0.0 0.0  1912  696 ?    Ss  20:58  0:00 /sbin/syslogd -
root   4747 0.0 0.0  1836  536 ?    S  20:58  0:00 /bin/dd bs 1 if
klog   4749 0.0 0.0  2496 1396 ?    Ss  20:58  0:00 /sbin/klogd -P
105    4770 0.0 0.0  2908 1104 ?    Ss  20:58  0:00 /usr/bin/dbus-d
root   4786 0.0 0.1 13584 2060 ?    Ssl 20:58  0:00 /usr/sbin/Netwo
root   4800 0.0 0.0  3280 1292 ?    Ss  20:58  0:00 /usr/sbin/Netwo
107    4820 0.0 0.2  6104 4216 ?    Ss  20:58  0:00 /usr/sbin/hald
root   4821 0.0 0.0  3092 1020 ?    S  20:58  0:00 hald-runner
107    4878 0.0 0.0  2160  896 ?    S  20:58  0:00 hald-addon-keyb
107    4885 0.0 0.0  2164  896 ?    S  20:58  0:00 hald-addon-keyb
107    4887 0.0 0.0  2160  892 ?    S  20:58  0:00 hald-addon-keyb
root   4890 0.0 0.0  2944  632 ?    Ss  20:58  0:00 /usr/bin/kdm -c
107    4902 0.0 0.0  2164  880 ?    S  20:58  0:00 hald-addon-acpi
root   4903 2.3 2.5 44476 39664 tty7   SLs+ 20:58  1:43 /usr/bin/X -br
root   4978 0.0 0.0  5284  972 ?    Ss  20:58  0:00 /usr/sbin/sshd
107    5022 0.0 0.0  3260 1188 ?    S  20:58  0:01 hald-addon-stor
root   5108 0.0 0.1  5804 2052 ?    Ss  20:58  0:00 /usr/sbin/cupsd
root   5192 0.0 0.0  1756  532 ?    S  20:58  0:00 /bin/sh /usr/bi
mysql   5232 0.0 1.0 126972 16208 ?    Sl  20:58  0:00 /usr/sbin/mysql
root   5233 0.0 0.0  1680  552 ?    S  20:58  0:00 logger -p daemo
avahi   5597 0.0 0.0  2736 1412 ?    Ss  20:58  0:00 avahi-daemon: r
avahi   5598 0.0 0.0  2736  460 ?    Ss  20:58  0:00 avahi-daemon: c
root   5627 0.0 0.0  1992  892 ?    Ss  20:58  0:00 /usr/sbin/dhcdb
root   5648 0.0 0.0  2924 1184 ?    Ss  20:58  0:00 /usr/sbin/hcid
root   5667 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S<  20:58  0:00 [krfcommd]
root   5675 0.0 0.0  2840 1212 ?    S  20:58  0:00 /usr/lib/blueto
root   5679 0.0 0.0  2768  984 ?    S  20:58  0:00 /usr/lib/blueto
daemon  5716 0.0 0.0  1964  432 ?    Ss  20:58  0:00 /usr/sbin/atd
root   5730 0.0 0.0  2332  912 ?    Ss  20:58  0:00 /usr/sbin/cron
dhcp   5777 0.0 0.0  2420 1164 ?    S  20:58  0:00 /sbin/dhclient
root   5783 0.0 0.4 21480 6928 ?    Ss  20:58  0:00 /usr/sbin/apach
www-data 5865 0.0 0.3 21624 5028 ?    S  20:58  0:00 /usr/sbin/apach
www-data 5866 0.0 0.3 21624 4884 ?    S  20:58  0:00 /usr/sbin/apach
www-data 5867 0.0 0.3 21624 4876 ?    S  20:58  0:00 /usr/sbin/apach
www-data 5868 0.0 0.3 21624 5068 ?    S  20:58  0:00 /usr/sbin/apach
www-data 5869 0.1 0.3 21624 5136 ?    S  20:58  0:04 /usr/sbin/apach
www-data 5932 0.0 0.2 21480 3572 ?    S  20:58  0:00 /usr/sbin/apach
root   6022 0.0 0.0  3928 1536 ?    S  20:59  0:00 -:0
yuuki   6037 0.0 0.0  1752  536 ?    Ss  21:00  0:00 /bin/sh /usr/bi
yuuki   6088 0.0 0.1 18708 2204 ?    Ss  21:00  0:00 /usr/lib/scim-1
yuuki   6092 0.0 0.0  4432  540 ?    Ss  21:00  0:00 /usr/bin/ssh-ag
yuuki   6095 0.0 0.0  2700  648 ?    S  21:00  0:00 /usr/bin/dbus-l
yuuki   6096 0.0 0.0  2772  904 ?    Ss  21:00  0:00 /usr/bin/dbus-d
yuuki   6115 0.0 0.0  4144  824 ?    Ss  21:00  0:00 /usr/lib/scim-1
yuuki   6116 0.0 0.3 25296 5964 ?    Ssl 21:00  0:00 /usr/lib/scim-1
yuuki   6118 0.0 0.1  6116 1720 ?    Ss  21:00  0:00 /usr/lib/scim-1
root   6135 0.0 0.0  1540  148 ?    S  21:00  0:00 start_kdeinit -
yuuki   6136 0.0 0.2 26040 4396 ?    Ss  21:00  0:00 kdeinit Running
yuuki   6139 0.0 0.2 25980 3168 ?    S  21:00  0:00 dcopserver [kde
yuuki   6142 0.0 0.4 27320 6620 ?    S  21:00  0:00 klauncher [kdei
yuuki   6144 0.0 1.3 47528 21208 ?    S  21:00  0:03 kded [kdeinit]
yuuki   6149 0.0 0.0  1676  372 ?    S  21:00  0:00 kwrapper ksmser
yuuki   6151 0.0 0.5 27500 8416 ?    S  21:00  0:00 ksmserver [kdei
yuuki   6152 0.1 0.7 30516 11704 ?    S  21:00  0:04 kwin [kdeinit]
yuuki   6154 0.0 0.8 31952 12960 ?    S  21:00  0:02 kdesktop [kdein
yuuki   6156 0.1 1.0 34860 17080 ?    S  21:00  0:08 kicker [kdeinit
yuuki   6160 0.0 0.7 30436 12128 ?    S  21:00  0:00 kio_uiserver [k
yuuki   6178 0.0 0.4 20676 6780 ?    S  21:00  0:02 /usr/bin/artsd
yuuki   6182 0.0 0.4 27196 7716 ?    S  21:00  0:00 kaccess [kdeini
yuuki   6187 0.0 0.8 31740 12496 ?    S  21:00  0:00 kmix [kdeinit]
yuuki   6188 0.0 1.0 30336 16520 ?    S  21:00  0:00 katapult -sessi
yuuki   6205 0.0 0.1  8140 2208 ?    S  21:00  0:00 aspell -a -S -C
yuuki   6211 0.0 0.6 34188 10416 ?    S  21:00  0:00 knotify [kdeini
yuuki   6217 0.0 0.7 32820 11260 ?    S  21:00  0:00 knetworkmanager
yuuki   6219 0.0 0.6 29092 10144 ?    S  21:00  0:00 klipper [kdeini
yuuki   6220 0.0 0.7 30948 11696 ?    S  21:00  0:00 /usr/bin/python
yuuki   6227 0.0 0.9 33972 14576 ?    S  21:00  0:03 adept_notifier
yuuki   6287 0.3 1.5 66732 24188 ?    S  21:01  0:14 konversation -c
yuuki   6294 0.0 0.9 34152 15316 ?    R  21:01  0:01 konsole [kdeini
yuuki   6295 0.0 0.2  5996 3388 pts/1  Ss  21:01  0:00 /bin/bash
yuuki   6357 0.0 0.8 32848 13508 ?    S  21:03  0:00 korgac --miniic
root   6373 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S  21:04  0:00 [pdflush]
root   6376 0.0 0.0   0   0 ?    S  21:04  0:00 [pdflush]
yuuki   6625 0.0 0.3 27532 5692 ?    S  21:43  0:00 kio_file [kdein
yuuki   7043 7.4 3.5 159996 55960 ?    SLl 22:00  0:57 amarokapp
yuuki   7055 0.0 0.1  3900 2432 ?    S  22:00  0:00 ruby /usr/share
yuuki   7057 0.5 2.1 101664 33188 ?    S  22:00  0:03 kopete -caption
yuuki   7100 0.0 0.1  5300 2456 ?    S  22:01  0:00 /usr/lib/libgco
yuuki   7111 5.5 3.9 186132 61396 ?    Sl  22:01  0:38 epiphany-browse
yuuki   7187 0.0 0.0  2624 1004 pts/1  R+  22:13  0:00 ps -aux
yuuki@yuuki:~$

here is free -m :

yuuki@yuuki:~$ free -m
       total    used    free   shared  buffers   cached
Mem:     1519    699    819     0     28    430
-/+ buffers/cache:    240    1278
Swap:     2423     33    2389
yuuki@yuuki:~$

It bothers me that my Linux system eats more memory than my xp

[dibl]

Re: Kubuntu and memory usage

Linux and Windows have very different designs for the use of memory. Linux is designed to use as much of memory as can be helpful (and to free it up whenever needed), but not to lock it up like Windows does. So you need to study up on how Linux makes use of memory and don't think about it the way you think about Windows memory usage.

[Yuuki]

Re: Kubuntu and memory usage

Oh maybe i dont get this very well, but what i displayed here was the physical memory usage. Not the vm.
correct me if i'm wrong, but Linux allocate memory for certain apps even if it doesnt need it, so it will be faster when it acutally needs it.... or something like that
Thats the number showed by vmSize not vmRss.
What i showed earlier, was the vmrss one, which mean i think, its is really using that much memory.
I'm not sure if i'm right tho.
Correct me if i'm wrong
And thx for your time and your answers !

[musta ruhtinas]

Re: Kubuntu and memory usage

well if you take a look to your free output you'll notice that out of your 699MB of used memory 430MB are cached (which will be freed when needed). using the cache means that accessing previously used apps/data is much faster.
from a windows point of view, you could say your os takes some 170MB of RAM.

[Yuuki]

[SOLVED] Re: Kubuntu and memory usage

oh i see ! thx !
so could you tell me what the vmsize thing is?

edit : added [SOLVED] to topic name
edit 2 : its rather 270 than 170 ! it is still a big number compared to my windows xp, but i have epiphany amarok etc... running. Still, it bothers me that my kubuntu eats as much memory as my xp:-(

[musta ruhtinas]

Re: [SOLVED] Kubuntu and memory usage

well this may be useful

edit 2 : its rather 270 than 170 !

  oops, my math ain't what it used to be this late at night 

[Yuuki]

Re: [SOLVED] Kubuntu and memory usage

Thx again !
learned good thing today !

[dibl]

Re: [SOLVED] Kubuntu and memory usage

You can't really compare the Win XP usage and Linux usage -- "used" doesn't mean the same thing!

Linux "uses" memory for caching data and things like that, but it is immediately freed up if needed. Win XP "uses" memory and it is locked up and unavailable for other programs or data. It's different.

So, in Linux:

"used" = "also available when needed for other stuff"

But in Windows:

"used" = "gone"

[kubicle]

Re: [SOLVED] Kubuntu and memory usage

well this may be useful

edit 2 : its rather 270 than 170 !

oops, my math ain't what it used to be this late at night

To be exact, the mem used by applications is 240 (buffer/cache excluded)

yuuki@yuuki:~$ free -m
total used free shared buffers cached
Mem: 1519 699 819 0 28 430
-/+ buffers/cache: 240 1278
Swap: 2423 33 2389

As already mentioned, you can't compare the memory usage in win and linux directly as memory is handled differently. And you probably want to put every bit of the memory you have to good use (idle ram is wasted ram )

[Pajoe]

Re: [SOLVED] Kubuntu and memory usage

One of the programs I keep on my panel is gnome-system-monitor to keep track of processes and to kill anything that needs it. For example if Firefox would crash with something it may not start and give the error message that it is alreay running, I can bring up the gnome-system-monitor and can easily find and kill the firefox-bin process. I also use it to keep track of the cpu usuage and memory usage.

In my gnome-system-monitor it shows I am currently using 368.6 MB of 4.0 GB whereas running the command free-m as you are doing shows I am using :

:~$ free -m
total used free shared buffers cached
Mem: 4054 3909 145 0 83 3460


You may want to try gnome-system-monitor, there is a kde type system monitor as well but I like the graphs in the gnome-system-monitor "resources" better.

[Fintan]

Re: [SOLVED] Kubuntu and memory usage

This is not directly related but may help understand how linux uses memory and maybe help tweak it a bit
http://rudd-o.com/archives/2007/10/0...to-fix-that/2/