Using /3GB Switch in Boot.Ini on W2003

[tech_guy]

Is anyone using the /3GB switch in their boot.ini on Server 2003? We're thinking of doing it on a DC with 4GB RAM that also runs SQL2005 to see if we can improve performance until we get a brand new box.

 

Help & advice much appreciated.

[AIT]

Is anyone using the /3GB switch in their boot.ini on Server 2003? We're thinking of doing it on a DC with 4GB RAM that also runs SQL2005 to see if we can improve performance until we get a brand new box.

 

Help & advice much appreciated.

 

 

It might make sense to optimize the server memory usage.

 

The /3GB switch works for all version of Windows Server 2003, but you should use it only when runnin Enterprise or Datacenter edition.

Standard Edition can allocate to user-mode application at most 2GB.If the /3GB switch is used in the Boot.ini file, then the privileged-mode kernel is restricted to 1GB of addressable memory without the corresponding increase of user-mode applications.

 

This effectively means 1GB of address space lost

 

 

However i am not sure that SQL baring in mind its hevily integrated within windows would benefit from this.

Edited December 8, 2009 by AIT

[DMcCoy]

Is anyone using the /3GB switch in their boot.ini on Server 2003? We're thinking of doing it on a DC with 4GB RAM that also runs SQL2005 to see if we can improve performance until we get a brand new box.

 

Help & advice much appreciated.

 

Is it SQL full? No point if not as express is limited to 1GB. If it's full then I'd look closer at CPU usage as the overhead of a standard DC is quite minimal.

[IanT]

I've added this too the boot.ini before

[AIT]

However using the /3gb only really effects programs that arent heavily intergrated within windows. So having said that you may not even notice any performance increase..

 

 

Try it and let us know?