Chapter 5 - Monitoring Virtual Memory

The Internet Information Server (IIS) runs as a Windows NT service and takes advantage of the full capability of the Windows NT virtual memory system. Virtual memory uses space on disk to extend the server's physical memory.

This chapter discusses how virtual memory is used on a Windows NT 4.0 server running Internet Information Server 2.0 (IIS). This chapter presents several approaches you can use to monitor and improve memory use. The material is intended as a technical guide for network administrators, but should also be useful for anyone running Internet Information Server—from a single source World Wide Web page publisher to the administrator of a large corporate network for an Internet service provider.

This chapter suggests some tools and techniques for monitoring virtual memory on servers running Internet Information Server. It covers the following topics:

"Virtual Memory on an IIS Server"

"Monitoring Server Memory"

"Monitoring the Working Set of the IIS process"

"Monitoring the IIS Object Cache"

"Monitoring the File System Cache"

"Suggestions for Optimizing Memory on an IIS Server"

Warning

To add or modify a Registry value entry, use administrative tools such as Control Panel or System Policy Editor whenever possible. Using a Registry editor (Regedit or Regedt32) to change a value can have unforeseen effects, including changes that can prevent you from starting your system.