Re: Growing swap usage

From: Bradley C. Kuszmaul (bradley@ee.yale.edu)
Date: Thu Apr 20 2000 - 12:36:32 EDT


It is difficult to tell what is going on with only this one top. Do
you know what "top" outputed yesterday?

I notice that you have large buffer and cache. If you are doing much
file I/O it is natural for the jobs that are not doing much to get
swapped out (increasing the swap used) to make more free space for
file buffering.

-Bradley

   Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 12:23:50 -0400
   From: Ron Nath <rnath@sdn6.med.yale.edu>

   I have been noticing that my swap space has been growing slowly but
   progressively over the past 58 days or so that my system has been up
   (RH6.1, p2-400, 288megs, 64meg swap). Then overnight it went from
   14megs of swap use to 31megs (based on top command). I cant think of a
   reason for this and my reading on swapon and swapoff in the man pages
   were not helpful.

   Im concerned the my swap space will eventually be used up not to mention
   Im puzzled as to why this is happening. Short of rebooting my system
   (which Im very reluctant to do for a number of reasons), is there a way
   to forcibly reclaim swap space of find out what the offending processes
   are that are using up the swap space?

   Im attaching a copy of my top -n1b output in case it might be of help.

   Thanks.

   --
   Ron Nath
   Post-Doctoral Fellow
   Yale Center for Medical Informatics

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    12:20pm up 58 days, 21:13, 10 users, load average: 0.01, 0.02, 0.00
   141 processes: 134 sleeping, 1 running, 0 zombie, 6 stopped
   CPU states: 0.6% user, 0.7% system, 0.0% nice, 0.5% idle
   Mem: 290172K av, 284508K used, 5664K free, 112644K shrd, 102528K buff
   Swap: 65984K av, 31108K used, 34876K free 50796K cached

     PID USER PRI NI SIZE RSS SHARE STAT LIB %CPU %MEM TIME COMMAND
   12785 rnath 20 0 1076 1076 816 R 0 7.3 0.3 0:00 top
       1 root 0 0 272 256 200 S 0 0.0 0.0 0:07 init
       2 root 0 0 0 0 0 SW 0 0.0 0.0 0:33 kflushd
       3 root 0 0 0 0 0 SW 0 0.0 0.0 1:35 kupdate
       4 root 0 0 0 0 0 SW 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 kpiod
       5 root 0 0 0 0 0 SW 0 0.0 0.0 0:48 kswapd
       6 root -20 -20 0 0 0 SW< 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 mdrecover
yd
     279 bin 0 0 260 232 172 S 0 0.0 0.0 0:31 portmap
     295 root 0 0 68 0 0 SW 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 apmd
     348 root 0 0 384 356 276 S 0 0.0 0.1 0:04 syslogd
     359 root 0 0 480 164 116 S 0 0.0 0.0 5:24 klogd
     375 daemon 0 0 144 104 64 S 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 atd
     391 root 5 0 176 116 80 S 0 0.0 0.0 0:04 crond
     457 root 3 0 512 312 228 S 0 0.0 0.1 0:03 sendmail
     474 root 0 0 244 220 168 S 0 0.0 0.0 0:38 gpm
     560 root 0 0 68 0 0 SW 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 vmnet-bri
dg
     579 xfs 0 0 3744 3604 368 S 0 0.0 1.2 6:36 xfs
     626 root 0 0 68 0 0 SW 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 mingetty
     627 root 0 0 68 0 0 SW 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 mingetty
     628 root 0 0 68 0 0 SW 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 mingetty
     629 root 0 0 68 0 0 SW 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 mingetty
     630 root 0 0 68 0 0 SW 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 mingetty
    2803 nobody 0 0 400 368 232 S 0 0.0 0.1 0:00 in.identd
    2804 root 0 0 400 368 232 S 0 0.0 0.1 0:01 in.identd
    2805 root 0 0 400 368 232 S 0 0.0 0.1 0:00 in.identd
    2806 root 0 0 400 368 232 S 0 0.0 0.1 0:00 in.identd
    2807 root 0 0 400 368 232 S 0 0.0 0.1 0:00 in.identd
    2808 root 0 0 400 368 232 S 0 0.0 0.1 0:00 in.identd
    2809 root 0 0 400 368 232 S 0 0.0 0.1 0:00 in.identd
    2810 root 0 0 400 368 232 S 0 0.0 0.1 0:00 in.identd
    2811 root 0 0 400 368 232 S 0 0.0 0.1 0:00 in.identd
    2812 root 0 0 400 368 232 S 0 0.0 0.1 0:00 in.identd
    2813 root 0 0 400 368 232 S 0 0.0 0.1 0:00 in.identd
    5702 root 0 0 124 32 24 S 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 lpd
   12451 root 0 0 188 0 0 SW 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 netsqld
   15589 root 0 0 0 0 0 SW 0 0.0 0.0 19:51 nfsd
   15591 root 0 0 576 556 412 S 0 0.0 0.1 0:00 rpc.mount
d
   21115 snath 0 0 1496 1440 372 S 0 0.0 0.4 0:03 screen
   21116 snath 0 0 324 208 116 S 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 bash
   21118 snath 0 0 196 0 0 SW 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 bash
   21120 snath 0 0 196 0 0 SW 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 bash
   21172 snath 0 0 352 328 244 S 0 0.0 0.1 0:10 scrsaver
   21287 snath 0 0 340 212 120 S 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 bash
   22694 root 0 0 360 360 0 S 0 0.0 0.1 0:00 su
   22695 root 0 0 340 340 116 S 0 0.0 0.1 0:00 bash
   22840 root 0 0 1268 1264 1168 S 0 0.0 0.4 0:04 httpsd
   22914 snath 0 0 208 208 0 S 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 bash
   22916 snath 0 0 244 112 68 S 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 telnet
   26035 snath 0 0 212 212 0 S 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 bash
   26653 snath 0 0 240 112 68 S 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 telnet
   28486 root 0 0 324 296 236 S 0 0.0 0.1 0:03 rwhod
    7647 root 0 0 292 260 176 S 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 inetd
    8620 root 0 0 188 188 0 S 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 pos-serve
r
   12041 root 0 0 172 88 48 S 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 dccsched
   12047 root 0 0 276 0 0 SW 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 dccbkst
   23153 snath 0 0 172 172 0 S 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 pos-serve
r
   26063 root 0 0 244 64 44 S 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 smbd
   26071 root 0 0 488 376 296 S 0 0.0 0.1 0:37 nmbd
   14287 root 5 5 696 696 320 S N 0 0.0 0.2 2:59 dsmc
     701 root 0 0 2252 1292 764 S 0 0.0 0.4 0:00 miniserv.
pl
    1405 root 0 0 2608 2608 2360 S 0 0.0 0.8 0:04 kdm
    1410 root 9 0 18828 18M 1320 S 0 0.0 6.4 43:58 X
    1557 root 0 0 384 384 316 S 0 0.0 0.1 0:00 mingetty
   26168 rnath 0 0 4624 4624 216 S 0 0.0 1.5 2:30 Xvnc
   26173 rnath 0 0 2488 2488 1544 S 0 0.0 0.8 0:02 xterm
   26174 rnath 0 0 1620 1620 1184 S 0 0.0 0.5 0:02 twm
   26176 rnath 0 0 1036 1036 792 S 0 0.0 0.3 0:00 bash
   28665 rnath 0 0 1952 1952 316 S 0 0.0 0.6 0:02 kfm
   30065 rnath 0 0 2164 1652 1272 S 0 0.0 0.5 0:00 kioslave
   30102 rnath 0 0 3200 3200 2308 S 0 0.0 1.1 0:00 kioslave
   31926 root 0 0 396 340 260 S 0 0.0 0.1 0:00 startkde
   31932 root 0 0 664 664 520 S 0 0.0 0.2 275:20 autorun
    1718 rnath 0 0 1384 1384 1156 S 0 0.0 0.4 0:00 xclock
    1719 rnath 0 0 1532 1532 1264 S 0 0.0 0.5 0:01 xload
    2489 snath 0 0 856 856 684 S 0 0.0 0.2 0:00 pos-serve
r
    2832 lmarenco 0 0 2896 2896 592 S 0 0.0 0.9 0:29 Xvnc
    2860 lmarenco 0 0 2016 2016 1536 S 0 0.0 0.6 0:20 xterm
    2861 lmarenco 0 0 1608 1608 1180 S 0 0.0 0.5 0:00 twm
    2864 lmarenco 0 0 956 956 768 S 0 0.0 0.3 0:00 bash
    2882 lmarenco 0 0 2612 2612 1020 S 0 0.0 0.9 0:01 kfm
    3396 root 0 0 728 728 552 S 0 0.0 0.2 0:06 in.telnet
d
    3397 root 0 0 1140 1140 896 S 0 0.0 0.3 0:00 login
    3398 snath 0 0 1124 1124 808 S 0 0.0 0.3 0:02 bash
    6737 snath 0 0 856 856 684 S 0 0.0 0.2 0:00 pos-serve
r
    7040 lmarenco 0 0 2012 2012 1528 S 0 0.0 0.6 0:00 xterm
    7042 lmarenco 0 0 932 932 752 S 0 0.0 0.3 0:00 bash
   14560 snath 0 0 1016 1016 768 S 0 0.0 0.3 0:01 vi
   19453 root 2 0 728 728 552 S 0 0.0 0.2 0:01 in.telnet
d
   19454 root 0 0 1140 1140 896 S 0 0.0 0.3 0:00 login
   19455 snath 0 0 1036 1036 796 S 0 0.0 0.3 0:00 bash
   28139 root 0 0 2112 2112 1512 S 0 0.0 0.7 0:00 kfmclient
   28140 root 0 0 2112 2112 1512 S 0 0.0 0.7 0:00 kfmclient
   28482 rnath 0 0 5636 5636 0 S 0 0.0 1.9 0:11 amaya
   28601 snath 0 0 948 948 764 T 0 0.0 0.3 0:00 vi
   28803 snath 0 0 1008 1008 768 T 0 0.0 0.3 0:00 vi
   28850 snath 0 0 860 860 716 T 0 0.0 0.2 0:00 vi
   30986 snath 0 0 804 804 624 S 0 0.0 0.2 0:01 telnet
   31996 nobody 0 0 1532 1528 1360 S 0 0.0 0.5 0:00 httpsd
   31997 nobody 0 0 1556 1552 1360 S 0 0.0 0.5 0:00 httpsd
   31998 nobody 0 0 1600 1596 1384 S 0 0.0 0.5 0:00 httpsd
   31999 nobody 0 0 1528 1524 1368 S 0 0.0 0.5 0:00 httpsd
   32000 nobody 0 0 1532 1528 1356 S 0 0.0 0.5 0:00 httpsd
   32001 nobody 0 0 1532 1528 1356 S 0 0.0 0.5 0:00 httpsd
   32002 nobody 0 0 1528 1524 1360 S 0 0.0 0.5 0:00 httpsd
   32003 nobody 0 0 1600 1596 1368 S 0 0.0 0.5 0:00 httpsd
   32004 nobody 0 0 1532 1528 1348 S 0 0.0 0.5 0:00 httpsd
   32005 nobody 0 0 1532 1528 1352 S 0 0.0 0.5 0:00 httpsd
    1597 snath 0 0 1104 1056 568 S 0 0.0 0.3 0:08 screen
    1598 snath 0 0 976 976 752 S 0 0.0 0.3 0:00 bash
    1600 snath 0 0 1196 1196 904 S 0 0.0 0.4 0:17 ftp
    1601 snath 0 0 976 976 752 S 0 0.0 0.3 0:00 bash
    6016 snath 0 0 1944 1944 1528 T 0 0.0 0.6 0:00 pine
    6088 snath 0 0 3040 3040 580 S 0 0.0 1.0 0:15 Xvnc
    6093 snath 0 0 2016 2016 1536 S 0 0.0 0.6 0:00 xterm
    6094 snath 0 0 1608 1608 1180 S 0 0.0 0.5 0:00 twm
    6096 snath 0 0 1016 1016 780 S 0 0.0 0.3 0:00 bash
    6115 snath 0 0 25852 25M 1048 S 23M 0.0 8.9 1:19 ld-linux.
so
    6134 snath 0 0 648 648 60 S 0 0.0 0.2 0:00 netscape-
co
    6138 snath 0 0 2056 2056 1540 S 0 0.0 0.7 0:01 xterm
    6140 snath 0 0 1016 1016 780 S 0 0.0 0.3 0:00 bash
    6888 snath 0 0 2584 2584 1116 S 0 0.0 0.8 0:00 Xvnc
    6893 snath 0 0 1976 1976 1496 S 0 0.0 0.6 0:00 xterm
    6894 snath 0 0 1592 1592 1168 S 0 0.0 0.5 0:00 twm
    6896 snath 0 0 1000 1000 764 S 0 0.0 0.3 0:00 bash
    8109 root 0 0 1068 1068 708 S 0 0.0 0.3 0:00 su
    8110 root 0 0 996 996 772 S 0 0.0 0.3 0:00 bash
    8548 snath 0 0 932 932 756 T 0 0.0 0.3 0:00 vi
   10263 root 0 0 4184 4184 3648 S 0 0.0 1.4 0:00 kdm
   11130 root 5 5 36 36 28 S N 0 0.0 0.0 0:00 dsmstat
   12144 rnath 0 0 4916 4916 2976 S 0 0.0 1.6 0:01 kwm
   12160 rnath 0 0 3832 3832 2808 S 0 0.0 1.3 0:00 kbgndwm
   12180 rnath 0 0 3860 3860 2720 S 0 0.0 1.3 0:00 khop.kss
   12189 rnath 0 0 4868 4868 3444 S 0 0.0 1.6 0:01 kfm
   12190 rnath 0 0 3648 3648 2632 S 0 0.0 1.2 0:00 krootwm
   12191 rnath 0 0 4508 4508 3216 S 0 0.0 1.5 0:00 kpanel
   12197 rnath 0 0 1364 1364 1124 S 0 0.0 0.4 0:00 xload
   12199 rnath 2 0 2032 2032 1492 S 0 0.0 0.7 0:00 xterm
   12201 rnath 10 0 1000 1000 768 S 0 0.0 0.3 0:00 bash
   12233 rnath 0 0 25956 25M 9720 S 14M 0.0 8.9 2:26 ld-linux.
so
   12250 rnath 0 0 3724 3724 3136 S 0 0.0 1.2 0:00 netscape-
co
   12651 snath 0 0 912 912 752 T 0 0.0 0.3 0:00 vi

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