How to correctly monitor Linux "real" memory usage?

Votes:

0

Your Vote:

Up

Down

In Linux, all available "free" memory is usually taken to buffer hard disk access. The result is, that the "free real memory" SNMP OID (1.3.6.1.4.1.2021.4.6.0) tells PRTG, that there is only some 10 or 20 MB available. the problem is described here: http://goo.gl/ju1f and a little bit down this page is a solution mentioned. is there a way to implement this solution within PRTG?

linux memory snmp

Created on Oct 9, 2010 11:47:58 AM by perler (50) ●1 ●1

Last change on Oct 13, 2010 3:07:16 PM by Daniel Zobel [Paessler Support] (21,383) ●3 ●3



2 Replies

Votes:

0

Your Vote:

Up

Down

Hi!

This is exactly the issue we have as well.

PRTG SSH sensor monitors the free physical memory. But that isn't really a very meaningful number with the way Linux handles memory. The buffers and cache usage can be more or less ignored, as they will be immediately discarded if any processes need to allocate the memory used by them. Therefore it would make more sense to have a sensor taking this into account.

We built a sensor using the sensor factory feature which sums up the effective free memory as we call it, but it is a pain to do so since you need to create a couple of SNMP sensors, one SSH sensor and then the factory built sensor to calculate the real number.

Any comments/ideas to this?

Jesper

Created on Apr 14, 2011 12:07:38 PM by Jesper Boll (0)



Votes:

0

Your Vote:

Up

Down

Im having the same issue as well... im using the snmp linux memory sensor and its experiencing the same issues described above... is there a way to fix the sensor? Its not very useful as is = (

Created on Feb 7, 2012 7:41:31 PM by Brandon Stanley (0)



Please log in or register to enter your reply.


Disclaimer: The information in the Paessler Knowledge Base comes without warranty of any kind. Use at your own risk. Before applying any instructions please exercise proper system administrator housekeeping. You must make sure that a proper backup of all your data is available.

Back to www.paessler.com

PRTG
Network Monitor
Intuitive to Use.
Easy to manage.

150.000 administrators have chosen PRTG to monitor their network. Find out how you can reduce cost, increase QoS and ease planning, as well.

Visit
www.paessler.com

What is this?

This knowledgebase contains questions and answers about PRTG Network Monitor and network monitoring in general. You are invited to get involved by asking and answering questions!

Learn more

Top Tags


View all Tags