wrong memory size in vm

[kri-2]

Hi,

we have a couple of vms (w2k3 Sp2) that show the wrong memory size.

Although the VM is configured to have 4GB of ram, windows only sees the strange value 3,75GB.

As the mem does not exceed 4GB, it can not relate to the pae switch!?

Overprovisioning should not be responsible for that!?

Any ideas what's wrong here?

Chris

[sshamilt]

If these are Window Server 2003 Standard Edition, they will only see a maximum of 4GB. You can only 'see' 3.5Gb because windows uses this space for address of your hardware.

Hope this helps.

Sean

[kri-2]

Hi Sean,

yes, they are standard edition, but it sounds a bit strange to me.

You mean, that 3,75GB should be shown by each machine that has 4GB?

How about machines that have 2GB, should they also show not all the 2GB?

So is it a problem of 4GB machines or is it a problem in general?

Chris

[sshamilt]

Hi Chris,

It's not really an issue, just a limitation of 32bit OSes. 2GB vms will be able to 'see' all 2GB of memory. But vms configured with 4GB of memory will only see 3.75GB.

If you wanted to see more memory either move to a 64bit edition of Windows or Enterprise Edition.

Hope this helps.

Sean

[kri-2]

Hi Sean,

ok, thanks!

But do you see this behaviour only in vms or also in physical machines?

Chris

[sshamilt · Accepted solution]

This affects both VMs and physical boxes, anything that runs a 32bit OS!

[kri-2]

Thanks for your answers, Sean!

[jhanekom]

For reference:

http://blogs.msdn.com/oldnewthing/archive/2006/08/14/699521.aspx

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605