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analyst7
Contributor
Contributor

New ESX 3.5 Update 1 host is utilizing 50% memory without any virtual machines running?

I just built a new quad proc r900 Dell with 128 GB RAM for our vm environment. Upon bootup it shows that it's using 66GB RAM. This host does not even have any virtual machines running on it?? Any clues on what would cause this issue? Any help or ideas would be much appreciated!

Thanks,

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5 Replies
BenConrad
Expert
Expert

What does 'esxtop' -> hit 'm' key for memory tell you?

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analyst7
Contributor
Contributor

9:36:54am up 40 min, 60 worlds; MEM overcommit avg: 0.00, 0.00, 0.00

PMEM /MB: 131066 total: 800 cos, 66544 vmk, 1 other, 63720 free

VMKMEM/MB: 63525 managed: 3811 minfree, 3816 rsvd, 59507 ursvd, high state

COSMEM/MB: 356 free: 2996 swap_t, 2996 swap_f: 0.00 r/s, 0.00 w/s

PSHARE/MB: 1 shared, 1 common: 0 saving

SWAP /MB: 0 curr, 0 target: 0.00 r/s, 0.00 w/s

MEMCTL/MB: 0 curr, 0 target, 0 max

1 1 idle 16 1534.64 1526.52 0.00 0.00 101.48

GID NAME NWLD MEMSZ SZTGT TCHD %ACTV %ACTVS %ACTVF %A

15 vmware-vmkauthd 1 5.48 5.48 1.59 0 0 0

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jrdx
Contributor
Contributor

I'm having the exact same issue. Today performed a fresh install of ESX 3.5 Update 1 on a Dell r900, 4 quad, 128 Gig of ram. On first boot the system is using 50% of memory.

Nothing interesting under mem stats other than "Memory Usage" and "Memory Consumed are at 50%". Everything else looks normal.

Was there any update to this issue?

-J.R.

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analyst7
Contributor
Contributor

Yes. By default you have to enable support on a host that has more than 64GB RAM. To change the following setting on the host under the Configuration Tab. Advanced Settings > VMKernel > Boot > DESELECT "VMkernel.Boot.force.36BitMTRRMask" and reboot your host and you will be good to go.

Hope this helps.

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jrdx
Contributor
Contributor

That did the trick. Thanks for the quick reply!

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