Issue with AWE and more than 4GB

[SQLBill]

-SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition
-Windows 2003 Enterprise Edition
-Cluster (active/passive)
-AWE is set, results of sp_configure show AWE is 0,1,1,1
-Pages are locked in memory for the SQL Server service account
-8 Procs total of 16 GB available
-Small database (2.6 GB)

We monitored the server and found that "SQL Server: Buffer Manager" / counters "Target pages" and "Total pages", provides the following type of information. Target pages indicates the number of pages that SQL Server considers ideal given the workload. Total pages indicates the total number of pages in the buffer pool.

Our information shows us that per 'Total pages', we are only using 4 GB of memory. 'Target Pages' is showing almost 14 GB. This seems to indicate that SQL Server WANTS to use 14 GB but is being limited to 4 GB.

Why? Or am I misunderstanding the information? Might it be that the database is smaller than 4 GB so it doesn't need more memory (the whole db fits into the 4 GB of memory)? If so, then why is the Target showing 14 GB?

-SQLBill

The following is part of my signature block and is only intended to be informational.
Posting advice: FAQ481-4875

 

[SQLBill]

Also, /PAE is set in boot.ini

-SQLBill

The following is part of my signature block and is only intended to be informational.
Posting advice: FAQ481-4875