Running Observer With Reserved Memory - Network Instruments GigaStor User Manual

Running Observer with reserved memory

Reserved memory helps Observer run more efficiently by dedicating memory for its exclusive use.
Prerequisite(s):
Observer Expert
Observer Suite
Expert Probe software
Multi Probe software
Observer uses reserved memory for packet capture and the statistics queue buffer. It is highly-recommended
that you use reserved memory. (GigaStorappliances running Observer are preconfigured this way.) You must
determine how you want Observer to be configured for your system.
Caution!
Never change the reserved memory settings of Network Instruments hardware unless Network
Instruments instructs you do so. Reserved memory settings should only be modified on non-Network Instruments
hardware, such as a desktop computer running an Observer analyzer.
Although your requirements are unique, there are some general recommendations where the system is
dedicated to Observer :For 64-bit, reserve all memory above 4 GB for Observer and for 32-bit, reserve all memory
above 400 MB for Observer.
Tip! If you need more RAM for the statistics queue buffer, you may need to lower the amount of RAM dedicated to
packet capture so that it is freed and available to add to the statistics queue.
Reserving memory allows Observer to allocate RAM for its exclusive use. This ensures that Observer has the
necessary memory to store packets for statistical analysis, or for capturing large amounts of data for decoding.
The more memory you reserve for Observer, the larger the packet capture and statistical queue buffers can be.
This allows you to store more packets and analyze a longer time period.
If the memory buffer for the statistics queue buffer is too small, you may end up with inaccurate statistical data
because some data may get pushed out before it can be processed.Observer processes packets on a first-in, first
out (FIFO) basis, so it is important that the buffer be large enough to allow for processing.
If you want to do a packet capture over an extended period of time it is vital that you have a buffer large enough
to hold the packets in memory. The only way to ensure you have a large enough buffer is to reserve memory for
use by Observer.
When reserving RAM for Observer you are taking RAM away from the operating system.
71)shows how much memory is required by the operating system. Anything beyond this amount may be
reserved for Observer.
Table 7: Reserved memory requirements
Operating System
64-bit with less than 4 GB
RAM
64-bit with 4 GB RAM
64-bit with 6+ GB RAM
2
32-bit
RAM required for the operating system
800 MB
1
4 GB
4 GB
256 MB (although 400+ MB is recommended)
Table 7 (page
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