Tuning the buffermem

Securing and Optimizing Linux: RedHat Edition -A Hands on Guide
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# 31.9. Tuning the buffermem

Another helpful tuning hint is to tell Linux the following: Use a minimum of 60 percent of memory for the buffer cache; only prune when the percentage of memory used for the buffer cache gets over 10 percent (this parameter is now unused); and allow the buffer cache to grow to 60 percent of all memory (this parameter is also unused now).

The default setup for the `buffermem` parameters under Red Hat Linux is:

            "2 10 60"

Under To change the values of buffermem, type the following command on your terminal:

            [root@deep ] /# echo "60 10 60" >/proc/sys/vm/buffermem

You can put the above command in the `/etc/rc.d/rc.local` script file and avoid typing it again the next time your system reboots. You can find full details in the 2.2 kernel documentation in the file `linux/Documentation/sysctl/vm.txt` a nd also, you can check General System Optimization, for more information.

Under Edit the `/etc/sysctl.conf` file and add the following line:

            # Improve virtual memory performance
            vm.buffermem = 60 10 60

You must restart your network for the change to take effect. The command to restart the network is the following:

            [root@deep ] /# /etc/rc.d/init.d/network restart

            Setting network parameters		[  OK  ]
            Bringing up interface lo		[  OK  ]
            Bringing up interface eth0	        [  OK  ]
            Bringing up interface eth1	        [  OK  ]

Recall that the last two parameters, 10 and 60 are unused by the system so we don't need to change the default ones.

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