Too much caching in 2008, how can I limit file-cache?
2008 Server with enough RAM, client copies a server stored file to the local drive, the server "eats" up all his ram, and when the server hits the limit it slows down to crawl speed, like he would be swapping out his cache too. Especially annoying if the server runs hyper-v guests, they nearly stop. I saw that effect on a lot of servers, but all my searches failed. 2008-R2 does not show that annoying effect, so I hope again it can be adjusted in 2008. See this screenshot (Update interval of taskmanager is 5 seconds): http://csb-filderstadt.homepage.t-online.de/Too-much-caching.png Server 2008 enterprise, 16 GB RAM, 2 Quad-core, uses 650 MB (the hyper-v guests are not running) when without load. One client copies a .vhd file of about 70 GB from the server to himself. The network speed is OK, about 100 MBytes/s, copy speed slows down to about 80 MB/s when the RAM limit is reached. But how can I prevent that the simple file cache eats up all RAM, and then slows down the machine to crawl, including all hyper-v guest (if they are running). Opening a taskmanager takes about 1 minute when the limit is reached, normally less than a second. Is there a setting in the registry so I can either limit the RAM used for caching, or a way to tell the filecache to leave more free RAM for the actual work?
November 22nd, 2009 3:53am

Since Windows NT, the default for the File and Printer Sharing service has been "Maximumize throughtput for file sharing". If you are not using the server as a file server you should change this setting.http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc938576.aspx
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November 22nd, 2009 5:34am

This was written for Windows 2003, but should still applyHow to performance tune a Windows 2003 Server http://networkadminkb.com/kb/Knowledge%20Base/Windows2003/How%20to%20performance%20tune%20a%20Windows%202003%20Server.aspx
November 22nd, 2009 6:08am

If you know where that Win2000 file sharing options are in 2008 (maximize fo X), just say. The other obvious things were already tried. I already tried "LargeSystemCache"=0 a few month ago with no help, but I'll to recheck. <edit> No difference, exactely the same behaviour. It is like this thread I found _now_: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winservergen/thread/e351f261-7b7d-4942-bf53-82da45310b0a
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November 22nd, 2009 12:37pm

I see that Microsoft does neither believe us or care, the "cache until swap out cache" is so easy to reproduce, on all server 2008 (non R2) machines I work with, even by other users which post here for exactely the same problem. I even remember back with NT4.0 exactely the same behaviour in some circumstances, it was fixed with a service pack (SP3 if I remember right, but not sure), it is strange that such a behaviour is back and YET still not fixed after Sp2. It "seems" to be fixed with 2008-R2, so does that company not care about the large number of 2008 servers out there? We cannot upgrade all servers to 2008-R2 just because 2008 is too stupid to do caching right. We also cannot upgrade those servers in a simple way since they are holding services which prevent R2 from upgrading (like an exchange 2007). To all those many Microsoft profesionals: Please, there must be a way, or should I send all our customers to you and let them ask directly what is going on and why it still happens? I would love to get the pressure of me and direct it to the company. no regards this time, Set PS: Not again replies which send me to Windows 2000 or 2003 hints.
November 28th, 2009 4:18am

DynCache fixed the exact same problem for me on 2008 (non-R2) machines. You can use it to manage the caching behavior on non R2 servers. See link below for details. Unfortunately I still have the problem on *some* 2008 R2 servers, and DynCache cannot be used on R2. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=e24ade0a-5efe-43c8-b9c3-5d0ecb2f39af&displaylang=en
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October 26th, 2010 6:47pm

Ive seen this issue now on many forums with Server 2008 R2 and there is no apparent fix, MS should either update dyncache service to work on R2 or give us another solution. Only thing even close is this hotfix which we are going to try but if this doesnt work then dont know what to try next. http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;979149
October 27th, 2010 2:24pm

Hey Mfoster11 - I'm curious to find out if this hotfix works for you for your R2 server. I was considering trying it the other day, but I never did. I have a separate post up for this issue on R2 servers, and I'd love if you wouldn't mind reporting your results there. Thanks! http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winservergen/thread/3f8a80fd-914b-4fe7-8c93-b06787b03662?prof=required
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October 27th, 2010 5:43pm

Guys, This is an old post but I have been looking everywhere for a solution. Below is the server config: Windows 2008 R2 Standard 64bit 12 GB Ram HyperV - 2 Virtual Virtual 1 - 1 GB - Virtual server only created and powered on not used Virtual 2 - 2 GB - Virtual server only created and powered on not used Exchange 2010 on Physical server less than 10 users on exchange Current Mail box per user - approx 3 GB AV - Nod32 BES Express on Physical server When I reboot the server the Memory usage is around 60% but slowly store.exe starts to eat the memory and finally it reaches 98% and then server hangs. This is so regular that sometimes I have to reboot the server 3 or 4 times a week. BTW, I tried to limit the memory usage to 3GB via ADSI after googling but store.exe keeps on using and there was no use making this change. ADSI change: msExchESEParamCacheSizeMax = 393216 Can someone please please help me. Regards J
May 17th, 2011 1:03pm

Guys, This is an old post but I have been looking everywhere for a solution. Below is the server config: Windows 2008 R2 Standard 64bit 12 GB Ram HyperV - 2 Virtual Virtual 1 - 1 GB - Virtual server only created and powered on not used Virtual 2 - 2 GB - Virtual server only created and powered on not used Exchange 2010 on Physical server less than 10 users on exchange Current Mail box per user - approx 3 GB AV - Nod32 BES Express on Physical server When I reboot the server the Memory usage is around 60% but slowly store.exe starts to eat the memory and finally it reaches 98% and then server hangs. This is so regular that sometimes I have to reboot the server 3 or 4 times a week. BTW, I tried to limit the memory usage to 3GB via ADSI after googling but store.exe keeps on using and there was no use making this change. ADSI change: msExchESEParamCacheSizeMax = 393216 Can someone please please help me. Regards J Your setup is wrong for your usage. My recommendation would be: 1 Virtual Exchange with 8 GB RAM (or 6GB with dynamic up to 8GB) and four virtual CPU's 1 Virtual Blackberry Server with 2 GB RAM and two virtual CPU's. Host machine: Only AV and Hyper-V, nothing else, not even connected to an active directory domain if not REALLY needed. This will solve your memory issues without requiring hacking 'round the cache settings of Exchange.
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September 17th, 2011 5:40pm

Well, it is 2011, Server 2008 R2 with SP1, all updates, the problem is still there on a lot of machines.... Simply copy from RAID to USB (or USB 3.0) is enough to exploit this, or from one drive to another (from SAN to internal HDD or USB etc..) Sad thing:In Server 2008 the "Dynamic cache tool" helped since it was able to limit it effevtively, see http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=9258 Here a typical screenshot: https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=401241CFC0F16659&id=401241CFC0F16659!162&sc=photos I wish the dynamic cache tool would work with 2008-R2 too...
September 19th, 2011 4:07pm

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