[techtalk] Tar memory issue?

[Jen Hamilton]

Here's a good article talking about that.

http://www2.linuxjournal.com/lj-issues/issue3/2770.html

Jen


On Fri, 2 Feb 2001, ktb wrote:

> On Fri, Feb 02, 2001 at 02:45:40PM -0500, Brian Sweeney wrote:
> > Hello all,
> > 
> > Has anyone had memory problems with tar?  I've noticed that when creating a
> > decent size tar file (750M) that includes a whole BUNCH of files linux runs
> > really low on memory, and it doesn't seem to come back.
> > 
> > For instance, I ran a top on a computer, and it had approximately 68Meg
> > "free".  During the tar process, I kept the top going, and the memory stayed
> > steady for a while, then the free memory suddenly went down to about 2Meg,
> > popped back up to about 3, and stayed there.  Even after tar finished, the
> > box kept claiming it only had 3M memory free, even though a top showed the
> > running processes were not eating that much.
> > 
> > I didn't notice any performance issues, though I haven't thoroughly tested
> > it yet.  I looked on google and redhat, but didn't find anything.  I also
> > tried to use memprof for the first time, and that, near as I can tell did
> > nothing except generate seg faults ;P.
> > 
> > Anyone have any ideas/suggestions...?
> > 
> 
> Ya don't worry about it.  This question comes up a lot on the debian
> user's list and I should know the full explanation, off the top of my
> head, but I don't.  Basically it is the way linux handles memory.  It
> looks like there isn't not much memory free but in really when the kernel
> needs more memory it gets it.  Not a very elegant explanation but I'm a
> little under the weather today or I would research more.  Do a search of
> debian-user @ http://www.geocrawler.com/ I bet you will come up with
> something.
> hth,
> kent
>    
> -- 
> I'd really love ta wana help ya Flanders but... Homer Simpson
> 
> 
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