2950SX-48-SI High Memory Utilization after Upgrade to latest IOS

cisco.xenpak · ‎09-07-2009

After upgrading the C2950SX-48-SI to the latetst IOS (c2950-i6k2l2q4-mz.121-22.EA13) the memory shows

Total for the processor 3885248

and 3593356 as used.

Before the Upgrade we had showing total of approximatly 5000000.

How did the memory "shrink" due to the upgrade? Can or is the switch memory partitioned diffrently, now using the diffrent IOS?

The switch is working without any problems.

Is there any risk or possible risk of running the switch so close to its peak memory? There is not a hole lot memory left. I monitored the used memory and there are slight up's and down's to see.

What is the recomended value to operate this type of switch by cisco?

cisco.xenpak · ‎09-08-2009

Just added the exact numbers shown from the switch. It is clearly to see, that the EA4 has 5039776 as total memory, and the EA13 has 3885248 as total memory.

config out of the box (c2950-i6k2l2q4-mz.121-22.EA13)

Switch#sh mem

Head Total(b) Used(b) Free(b) Lowest(b) Largest(b)

Processor 80C86740 3885248 2802388 1082860 797736 797600

I/O A0A723A0 2179968 1355868 824100 763040 763340

switch with full config on - no traffic on the switch - not connected to network -

XXX#sh mem (c2950-i6k2l2q4-mz.121-22.EA13)

Head Total(b) Used(b) Free(b) Lowest(b) Largest(b)

Processor 80C86740 3885248 3230348 654900 652648 644732

I/O A0A723A0 2179968 1355068 824900 763040 763340

Switch#sh mem (c2950-i6q4l2-mz.121-22.EA4.bin)

Head Total(b) Used(b) Free(b) Lowest(b) Largest(b)

Processor 80B6C960 5039776 2613216 2426560 2365328 2332148

I/O A08AF3E0 2872672 1355112 1517560 1455744 1456044

johgill · ‎09-08-2009

It is likely a bug in the displayed or even total memory. The memory architecture of a 2950 is different from the 3560/296/3750 switches, and they share the same code base. 2950 images are being generated but no bugs can be filed for that box any more.

The good news is that RAM is not utilized for the switching function the 2950 is designed to do. Day-to-day usage of RAM is restricted to access, management, monitoring, and overhead. If you have a memory leak, you would be in danger - otherwise there will be no switching impact because switching is done in hardware.