page file size with /pae switch and 8gb ram

5 Feb 2006 8:07 PM

NAN

Hi,
Windows 2000 Advanced server sp4, server has 8gb physical memory with the
/fastdetect /pae switch in the boot.ini file. Page file size should be what?
Right now it is set for 4gb on the E drive but for some reason another one
also shows up on the C drive, also 4gb.
Thanks.

6 Feb 2006 9:30 PM

Joshua Bolton

How many drives [not partitions] do you have? if single drive delete the
pagefile on d:. If two drives delete the pagefile on c:

Reason? MS recommends separate pagefile ops from system file ops due to io
contention. But if you only have one drive it doesn't make sense to move the
pagefile anywhere since io is by drive not partition.

I would suspect 4gig is PLENTY with 8gig of ram in the system. Monitor
pagefile usage by using performance monitor and checking task manager stats.

MS also recommends setting pagefile static by setting the same value for min
and max. This eliminates fragmentation. Might want to watch the pagefile
for a month as to determine the "right size" before doing this setting. Also
note that if you delete the pagefile on c: you won't be able to save disk
dumps. Personally I don't find this a concern since they have NEVER helped
me solve a crashing issue.

6 Feb 2006 9:35 PM

NAN

C and E are both on the same drive. More space on E though so I was thinking
of deleting the file off C and keeping the 4gb file on E?
THanks.

Show quoteHide quote

"Joshua Bolton" wrote:

> How many drives [not partitions] do you have? if single drive delete the
> pagefile on d:. If two drives delete the pagefile on c:
>
> Reason? MS recommends separate pagefile ops from system file ops due to io
> contention. But if you only have one drive it doesn't make sense to move the
> pagefile anywhere since io is by drive not partition.
>
> I would suspect 4gig is PLENTY with 8gig of ram in the system. Monitor
> pagefile usage by using performance monitor and checking task manager stats.
>
> MS also recommends setting pagefile static by setting the same value for min
> and max. This eliminates fragmentation. Might want to watch the pagefile
> for a month as to determine the "right size" before doing this setting. Also
> note that if you delete the pagefile on c: you won't be able to save disk
> dumps. Personally I don't find this a concern since they have NEVER helped
> me solve a crashing issue.