Checking Available RAM
- π The
free command can be used to check available RAM, but it's essential to understand the difference between "free" and "available" memory.
- π Available memory includes cached memory that can be freed for applications, providing a more accurate representation of usable RAM.
When to Worry About RAM Usage
- π¨ If free memory is close to zero and available memory is low, or if swap usage is increasing, it may indicate a legitimate memory issue.
- π However, if available memory is sufficient and swap usage remains steady, the system is likely healthy and utilizing memory efficiently.
Adjusting Swappiness
- π Linux's swappiness value controls how aggressively the system moves inactive memory pages to swap, with higher values being more aggressive.
- π« However, disabling disc caching is generally not recommended, as it can degrade system performance.