Windows 2000 Server and Memory above 2GB

[SupGuy]

I'm hoping to get a clarification on something. Most everything I find indicates that the /3GB switch in the boot.ini for Windows 2000 Server (NOT advanced server) would not provide user-mode memory above the usual 2GB that is normally available, however, I have seen a bit of conflicting information. I found a chart which seemed to indicate that if you were running SQL Server Enterprise Edition, this *would* allow SQL Server to access the additional RAM.

Does anyone know 100% for sure whether the /3GB switch can offer any benefit to someone with 4 gigs RAM on Windows 2000 Server and SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition?

 

[Mia03]

I can't be 100% sure of anything but I have had problems with virtual memory fragmentation, Windows 2000 server and Exchange 2000 on a server with 4Gb RAM recently.

Everything I have read is very clear on the fact that Windows 2000 server standard edition does not support the /3gb switch in any way. It creates false memory address space and when a process tries to access this, a bluescreen can result.

I would say that regardless of the apps on the server, if it's W2K standard, /3gb is not supported. End of story.

Sorry I couldn't be more definite, but nothing I read indicated that the switch would work in that setup.

Mia

 

[JayKusch]

Here it straight from the horses' mouth ... MS that is!

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;274750&sd=tech

Thanks

J. Kusch