The only thing I have that gives any hint as to what is using memory is
/proc/meminfo and free .
total: used: free: shared: buffers: cached:
Mem: 660455424 653500416 6955008 0 5558272 56893440
Swap: 1091526656 48332800 1043193856
MemTotal: 644976 kB
MemFree: 6792 kB
MemShared: 0 kB
Buffers: 5428 kB
Cached: 40688 kB
SwapCached: 14872 kB
Active: 71176 kB
Inact_dirty: 26196 kB
Inact_clean: 14768 kB
Inact_target: 22428 kB
HighTotal: 0 kB
HighFree: 0 kB
LowTotal: 644976 kB
LowFree: 6792 kB
SwapTotal: 1065944 kB
SwapFree: 1018744 kB
Committed_AS: 229088 kB
total used free shared buffers cached
Mem: 644976 638200 6776 0 7168 42560
-/+ buffers/cache: 588472 56504
Swap: 1065944 56624 1009320
now, usually it's people complaining about all this cache being used in
ram and their system swapping despite this cache. But here it's
obviously a problem with buffers. I get a gradual increase in buffers
as time goes by and after 2 days it is at what it is at now, after X
crashed. I've restarted my normal array of programs I have running all
the time and ps and top both show very little memory being used by any
single program, nothing that could account for 560MB of buffers.
So where do these buffers come from and how can I find out? I'm
assuming it's a userlevel program causing all this buffer to be used but
then if that's the case, why does it not show up as being used by it in
ps ?
closing X doesn't seem to release all the buffer or even much, so I
assume it's something running as a daemon (mysql or apache or whatever)
but then again, they are using almost no memory at all according to ps
--=-BWCTOQUbyVbQl276RWFj
Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=ps-output
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Type: text/plain; name=ps-output; charset=ANSI_X3.4-1968
USER PID %CPU %MEM VSZ RSS TTY STAT START TIME COMMAND
root 1 0.0 0.0 1272 436 ? S Jun15 0:07 init [2]=20
root 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jun15 0:01 [keventd]
root 3 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SWN Jun15 0:00 [ksoftirqd_C=
PU0]
root 4 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jun15 0:04 [kswapd]
root 5 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jun15 0:00 [bdflush]
root 6 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jun15 0:00 [kupdated]
root 7 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jun15 0:01 [kjournald]
root 36 0.0 0.0 1512 500 ? S Jun15 0:00 /sbin/devfsd=
/dev
root 69 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jun15 0:00 [khubd]
root 89 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jun15 0:01 [msp3410 [au=
to]]
root 129 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jun15 0:03 [kjournald]
root 130 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jun15 0:00 [kjournald]
root 131 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jun15 0:00 [kjournald]
root 132 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jun15 0:01 [kjournald]
root 133 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jun15 0:01 [kjournald]
root 134 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jun15 0:00 [kjournald]
root 135 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jun15 0:00 [kjournald]
root 136 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jun15 0:01 [kjournald]
root 137 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SW Jun15 0:00 [kjournald]
daemon 160 0.0 0.0 1384 320 ? S Jun15 0:00 /sbin/portma=
p
root 240 0.0 0.0 2036 580 ? S Jun15 0:00 /sbin/syslog=
d
root 243 0.0 0.0 1968 396 ? S Jun15 0:00 /sbin/klogd
root 327 0.0 0.0 1552 448 ? S Jun15 0:00 /usr/sbin/gp=
m -m /dev/usbmouse -t imps2
root 333 0.0 0.0 1996 500 ? S Jun15 0:00 /usr/sbin/in=
etd
root 355 0.0 0.1 2180 836 ? S Jun15 0:00 /bin/sh /usr=
/bin/safe_mysqld
mysql 392 0.0 0.1 37660 652 ? S Jun15 0:00 /usr/sbin/my=
sqld --basedir=3D/usr --datadir=3D/var/lib/mysql --user=3Dmysql --pid-file=
=3D/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.pid --skip-locking
mysql 394 0.0 0.1 37660 652 ? S Jun15 0:00 /usr/sbin/my=
sqld --basedir=3D/usr --datadir=3D/var/lib/mysql --user=3Dmysql --pid-file=
=3D/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.pid --skip-locking
mysql 395 0.0 0.1 37660 652 ? S Jun15 0:00 /usr/sbin/my=
sqld --basedir=3D/usr --datadir=3D/var/lib/mysql --user=3Dmysql --pid-file=
=3D/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.pid --skip-locking
mysql 396 0.0 0.1 37660 652 ? S Jun15 0:00 /usr/sbin/my=
sqld --basedir=3D/usr --datadir=3D/var/lib/mysql --user=3Dmysql --pid-file=
=3D/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.pid --skip-locking
root 407 0.0 0.1 2764 716 ? S Jun15 0:00 /usr/sbin/nm=
bd -D
root 409 0.0 0.0 3764 448 ? S Jun15 0:00 /usr/sbin/sm=
bd -D
root 415 0.0 0.0 2684 452 ? S Jun15 0:00 /usr/sbin/ss=
hd
root 418 0.0 0.3 1976 1968 ? SL Jun15 0:00 /usr/sbin/nt=
pd
nobody 422 0.0 0.0 2624 600 ? S Jun15 0:00 proftpd (acc=
epting connections)
daemon 425 0.0 0.0 1384 468 ? S Jun15 0:00 /usr/sbin/at=
d
root 428 0.0 0.0 1652 540 ? S Jun15 0:00 /usr/sbin/cr=
on
root 432 0.0 0.1 2240 912 vc/1 S Jun15 0:00 -bash
root 433 0.0 0.0 1256 396 vc/2 S Jun15 0:00 /sbin/getty =
38400 tty2
root 434 0.0 0.0 1256 396 vc/3 S Jun15 0:00 /sbin/getty =
38400 tty3
root 435 0.0 0.0 1256 396 vc/4 S Jun15 0:00 /sbin/getty =
38400 tty4
root 436 0.0 0.0 1256 396 vc/5 S Jun15 0:00 /sbin/getty =
38400 tty5
root 437 0.0 0.0 1256 396 vc/6 S Jun15 0:00 /sbin/getty =
38400 tty6
root 8678 0.0 0.0 5648 620 ? S Jun17 0:00 /usr/local/a=
pache/bin/httpd
www-data 8679 0.0 0.1 8392 668 ? S Jun17 0:00 /usr/local/a=
pache/bin/httpd
www-data 8680 0.0 0.1 8428 656 ? S Jun17 0:00 /usr/local/a=
pache/bin/httpd
www-data 8681 0.0 0.1 8288 648 ? S Jun17 0:00 /usr/local/a=
pache/bin/httpd
www-data 8682 0.0 0.1 8388 676 ? S Jun17 0:00 /usr/local/a=
pache/bin/httpd
www-data 8683 0.0 0.1 8492 696 ? S Jun17 0:00 /usr/local/a=
pache/bin/httpd
www-data 8695 0.0 0.1 8456 664 ? S Jun17 0:00 /usr/local/a=
pache/bin/httpd
www-data 8965 0.0 0.1 8388 648 ? S Jun17 0:00 /usr/local/a=
pache/bin/httpd
www-data 11351 0.0 0.1 8108 704 ? S Jun17 0:00 /usr/local/a=
pache/bin/httpd
www-data 11381 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? Z Jun17 0:00 [httpd <defu=
nct>]
root 5705 0.0 0.1 2304 680 vc/1 S 00:28 0:00 /usr/bin/per=
l ./decibel.pl
root 5710 0.0 0.1 2032 756 vc/1 S 00:28 0:00 /bin/sh /usr=
/bin/X11/startx
root 5711 0.0 0.0 2184 548 vc/1 S 00:28 0:00 xinit -- -dp=
i 100
root 5712 0.8 1.9 83636 12740 ? S< 00:28 0:25 X :0 -dpi 10=
0
root 5717 0.0 0.1 2028 748 vc/1 S 00:28 0:00 sh /root/.xi=
nitrc
root 5718 0.0 0.4 6656 2940 vc/1 S 00:28 0:01 sawfish
root 5722 0.0 0.3 8100 2412 tty1 S 00:28 0:00 rep /usr/lib=
/sawfish/1.0.1/i386-pc-linux-gnu/sawfish-menu
root 5729 0.0 0.3 5976 1996 vc/1 S 00:28 0:00 /usr/bin/Ete=
rm
root 5732 0.0 0.1 2232 1092 pts/0 S 00:28 0:00 -bash
root 5740 0.0 0.3 6064 2288 vc/1 S 00:28 0:00 /usr/bin/Ete=
rm
root 5743 0.0 0.1 2236 1096 pts/1 S 00:28 0:00 -bash
root 5748 0.0 0.2 5976 1732 vc/1 S 00:28 0:00 /usr/bin/Ete=
rm
root 5752 0.0 0.1 2228 944 pts/2 S 00:28 0:00 -bash
root 5759 0.0 0.2 5916 1860 vc/1 S 00:28 0:01 /usr/bin/Ete=
rm
root 5762 0.0 0.1 2228 944 pts/3 S 00:28 0:00 -bash
root 5773 0.0 0.2 5740 1896 vc/1 S 00:28 0:00 /usr/bin/Ete=
rm
root 5776 0.0 0.1 2228 944 pts/4 S 00:28 0:00 -bash
root 5796 0.0 0.2 6336 1760 vc/1 S 00:28 0:00 /usr/bin/Ete=
rm
root 5799 0.0 0.1 2228 944 pts/5 S 00:28 0:00 -bash
root 5808 0.0 0.5 13368 3284 vc/1 S 00:28 0:00 licq -p gtk_=
gui
root 5809 0.0 0.5 13368 3284 vc/1 S 00:28 0:00 licq -p gtk_=
gui
root 5810 0.0 0.5 13368 3284 vc/1 S 00:28 0:00 licq -p gtk_=
gui
root 5811 0.0 0.5 13368 3284 vc/1 S 00:28 0:00 licq -p gtk_=
gui
root 5812 0.0 0.5 13368 3284 vc/1 S 00:28 0:00 licq -p gtk_=
gui
root 5826 0.0 0.7 9400 4640 vc/1 S 00:29 0:01 gaim
safemode 5857 0.0 0.1 2216 944 pts/5 S 00:29 0:00 bash
safemode 5861 0.0 0.2 2876 1396 pts/5 S 00:29 0:00 epic diemen.=
nl.eu.undernet.org
safemode 5875 0.0 0.2 4520 1768 ? S 00:29 0:00 xterm -geome=
try 80x24 -reverse -bg black -fg white -fa lucida console -fs 8 -e /usr/loc=
al/libexec/wserv localhost 37758
safemode 5876 0.0 0.0 2004 576 pts/6 S 00:29 0:00 /usr/local/l=
ibexec/wserv localhost 37758
safemode 5877 0.0 0.2 4520 1780 ? S 00:29 0:00 xterm -geome=
try 80x24 -reverse -bg black -fg white -fa lucida console -fs 8 -e /usr/loc=
al/libexec/wserv localhost 37760
safemode 5878 0.0 0.0 2004 576 pts/7 S 00:29 0:00 /usr/local/l=
ibexec/wserv localhost 37760
safemode 5879 0.0 0.2 4520 1896 ? S 00:29 0:00 xterm -geome=
try 80x24 -reverse -bg black -fg white -fa lucida console -fs 8 -e /usr/loc=
al/libexec/wserv localhost 37762
safemode 5880 0.0 0.0 2004 576 pts/8 S 00:29 0:00 /usr/local/l=
ibexec/wserv localhost 37762
root 5897 0.0 0.3 5984 2492 pts/1 S 00:30 0:00 gprocmeter3
root 5912 0.0 0.1 1772 660 pts/3 S 00:30 0:02 telnet icebo=
x 1111
root 5952 0.0 0.0 1772 616 pts/4 S 00:31 0:00 telnet icebo=
x 1111
root 5967 0.0 0.1 2424 740 pts/2 S 00:31 0:00 alsamixer
root 5975 0.0 0.6 26812 4308 vc/1 S 00:31 0:00 freeamp
root 5977 0.0 0.6 26812 4308 vc/1 S 00:31 0:00 freeamp
root 5978 0.0 0.6 26812 4308 vc/1 S 00:31 0:00 freeamp
root 5979 0.0 0.6 26812 4308 vc/1 S 00:31 0:00 freeamp
root 5980 0.0 0.6 26812 4308 vc/1 S 00:31 0:00 freeamp
root 5983 0.0 0.6 26812 4308 vc/1 S 00:31 0:00 freeamp
root 5985 0.0 0.6 26812 4308 vc/1 S 00:31 0:00 freeamp
root 6015 0.0 1.0 18736 6888 vc/1 S 00:32 0:01 evolution
root 6018 0.0 0.1 3312 1108 ? S 00:32 0:00 oafd --ac-ac=
tivate --ior-output-fd=3D9
root 6023 0.0 0.5 20664 3592 ? S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/wombat --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:Bonobo_Moniker_wombat_Factory --o=
af-ior-fd=3D10
root 6029 0.0 0.4 9716 3020 ? S 00:32 0:00 bonobo-monik=
er-xmldb --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:Bonobo_Moniker_xmldb_Factory --oaf-ior=
-fd=3D12
root 6033 0.0 0.8 46132 5564 ? S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-executive-summary --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolut=
ion_Summary_ShellComponent --oaf-ior-fd=3D14
root 6037 0.0 0.6 20560 4196 ? S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-calendar --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolution_Calen=
dar_ShellComponent --oaf-ior-fd=3D15
root 6042 0.0 0.5 17276 3384 ? S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-alarm-notify --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolution_C=
alendar_AlarmNotify_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=3D16
root 6048 0.2 2.5 39092 16476 ? S 00:32 0:05 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-mail --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolution_Mail_Shel=
lComponent --oaf-ior-fd=3D18
root 6053 0.0 0.7 19952 5104 ? S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-addressbook --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolution_Ad=
dressbook_ShellComponent --oaf-ior-fd=3D19
root 6058 0.0 2.5 39092 16476 ? S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-mail --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolution_Mail_Shel=
lComponent --oaf-ior-fd=3D18
root 6059 0.0 2.5 39092 16476 ? S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-mail --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolution_Mail_Shel=
lComponent --oaf-ior-fd=3D18
root 6061 0.0 2.5 39092 16476 ? S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-mail --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolution_Mail_Shel=
lComponent --oaf-ior-fd=3D18
root 6062 0.0 2.5 39092 16476 ? S 00:32 0:02 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-mail --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolution_Mail_Shel=
lComponent --oaf-ior-fd=3D18
root 6089 0.0 0.1 2996 1240 ? S 00:32 0:00 /usr/bin/gco=
nfd-1 22
root 6090 0.0 0.8 46132 5564 ? S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-executive-summary --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolut=
ion_Summary_ShellComponent --oaf-ior-fd=3D14
root 6091 0.0 0.8 46132 5564 ? S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-executive-summary --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolut=
ion_Summary_ShellComponent --oaf-ior-fd=3D14
root 6092 0.0 0.8 46132 5564 ? S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-executive-summary --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolut=
ion_Summary_ShellComponent --oaf-ior-fd=3D14
root 6093 0.0 0.8 46132 5564 ? S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-executive-summary --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolut=
ion_Summary_ShellComponent --oaf-ior-fd=3D14
root 6094 0.0 0.8 46132 5564 ? S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-executive-summary --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolut=
ion_Summary_ShellComponent --oaf-ior-fd=3D14
root 6095 0.0 0.8 46132 5564 ? S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-executive-summary --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolut=
ion_Summary_ShellComponent --oaf-ior-fd=3D14
root 6096 0.0 0.8 46132 5564 ? S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-executive-summary --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolut=
ion_Summary_ShellComponent --oaf-ior-fd=3D14
root 6097 0.0 0.8 46132 5564 ? S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-executive-summary --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolut=
ion_Summary_ShellComponent --oaf-ior-fd=3D14
root 6098 0.0 0.8 46132 5564 ? S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-executive-summary --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolut=
ion_Summary_ShellComponent --oaf-ior-fd=3D14
root 6099 0.0 0.8 46132 5564 ? S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-executive-summary --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolut=
ion_Summary_ShellComponent --oaf-ior-fd=3D14
root 6100 0.0 0.8 46132 5564 ? S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-executive-summary --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolut=
ion_Summary_ShellComponent --oaf-ior-fd=3D14
root 6101 0.0 0.8 46132 5564 ? S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-executive-summary --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolut=
ion_Summary_ShellComponent --oaf-ior-fd=3D14
root 6102 0.0 0.8 46132 5564 ? S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-executive-summary --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolut=
ion_Summary_ShellComponent --oaf-ior-fd=3D14
root 6103 0.0 0.8 46132 5564 ? S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-executive-summary --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolut=
ion_Summary_ShellComponent --oaf-ior-fd=3D14
root 6111 0.1 1.8 36932 12104 tty1 S 00:32 0:04 /usr/lib/moz=
illa/mozilla-bin
root 6162 0.0 1.8 36932 12104 tty1 S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/moz=
illa/mozilla-bin
root 6163 0.0 1.8 36932 12104 tty1 S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/moz=
illa/mozilla-bin
root 6164 0.0 1.8 36932 12104 tty1 S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/moz=
illa/mozilla-bin
root 6166 0.0 1.8 36932 12104 tty1 S 00:32 0:00 /usr/lib/moz=
illa/mozilla-bin
root 6204 0.0 0.2 5704 1744 vc/1 S 00:33 0:00 xawtv -nodga=
-xv
root 6381 0.7 0.9 17572 6264 ? S 00:37 0:16 gnome-gtkhtm=
l-editor --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_GtkHTML_Editor_Factory --oaf-ior=
-fd=3D22
root 7801 0.0 2.5 39092 16476 ? S 01:07 0:00 /usr/lib/evo=
lution/evolution-mail --oaf-activate-iid=3DOAFIID:GNOME_Evolution_Mail_Shel=
lComponent --oaf-ior-fd=3D18
root 8159 0.0 0.0 1528 508 vc/1 S 01:15 0:00 sleep 3s
root 8160 0.0 0.2 3348 1540 pts/1 R 01:15 0:00 ps aux
--=-BWCTOQUbyVbQl276RWFj--
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