memory usage

[tresker]

Is it normal to use more and more memory as the computer remains on? I've had this computer on for a couple of days now, and it started using 300 meg out of 1 gig, yesterday was using about 700, and now it is using all but 28 meg of memory.

I don't have many applications running.

[Bejje]

Re: memory usage

I never figured out how linux uses memory. In my computer I have 2GB and Kubuntu seems to use all that memory even if I don't use any programs/games. However it never seems to use the swap partition so I guess I'm not out of memory anyway. Can anyone explain?

[dibl]

Re: memory usage

It's a somewhat complex subject, which Mr. Google can help you research.

But, the way Linux uses RAM is different than Windows. Linux "lays claim" to most of your available RAM over time, and uses it for caching things and other purposes. Although it will show up in such views as Kinfocenter as "used", it is not committed to applications in the way that Windows does it. In other words, you should not interpret "used" as meaning "not available if needed".

[Bejje]

Re: memory usage

Thanks, I figured that this was normal since other distributions does the same thing.

[Kohhal]

Re: memory usage

I was wondering about memory usage in Linux too. I'm used to windows slowly eating up my memory over days and eventually needing to reboot, is Linux more suited to staying up for longer/extended periods?

[Kohhal]

Re: memory usage

Aye, Firefox is a great one for eating memory, same in Linux eh? Fun

[dibl]

Re: memory usage

Yes, and watch out for strigi!

[tresker]

Re: memory usage

That's interesting. Seems strange that a web browser chews up a lot of memory.

Do you mean you must restart the browser or do you mean that the whole system needs a reboot?

[dibl]

Re: memory usage

Closing an app should release all the memory it was using, so system restart should not be required. Only an OS "leak" would require that to fix it.