Re: Windows 2003 RAM detection
jon.cutler_at_gmail.com
Date: 12/21/04
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Date: 21 Dec 2004 05:47:56 -0800
Marshall University has several new Dell PowerEdge 2850's with Perc4/Di
and 4GB of RAM. We asked our Dell Advanced Systems Engineer about the
problem and he provided us this response:
------------------------------------
Regarding the memory reserved for the PCIe I/O on the 8G systems, this
happens on either PCI-X or PCI Express systems that are running any
Microsoft OS. The fix to this is to enable PAE and then a system
running with 4GB of physical memory will actually report ~4.5GB of
memory in the OS. This issue is not unique to Dell and this is not a
new issue, but, in the past it has only been an issue on higher end
systems (systems that support more than 4GB of physical memory) and
this issue is more pronounced with the memory requirements of PCI
Express based systems.
------------------------------------
We modified our Windows BOOT.INI file to add the boot switch of " /PAE
" (see http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;283037
for info on 'Large Memory Support') rebooted and the system reported
the correct amount of available memory.
Jon Cutler
Assoc. Director, Systems Administration
Marshall University Computing Services
systems@(iDontLikeSpam)marshall.edu
workinghard@news.postalias wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Sorry for the late postback. DELL cofirmed that the Perc4 raid
controller
> on the PE 2850 Will take 750 MB of the systems RAM for it's use when
you
> have 4GB or more of RAM in the machine. This can not be disabled.
>
> Thx for you efforts to help me.
>
>
> ""Jeff Qiu [MSFT]"" <jefffqiu@online.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:SWW7IBTxEHA.3388@cpmsftngxa10.phx.gbl...
> > Hi John,
> >
> > Thank you for your update.
> >
> > If there is anything else I can be of further assistance, please
feel free
> > to let me know.
> >
> > Have a good day!
> >
> > Best Regards,
> >
> > Jeff Qiu
> > Microsoft Online Partner Support
> > MCSE 2k/2k3, MCSA 2k/2k3, MCDBA
> > Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
> >
> > =====================================================
> > When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your
newsreader so
> > that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
> > =====================================================
> > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> > rights.
> >
> >
> > --------------------
> >>From: <workinghard@news.postalias>
> >>Subject: Re: Windows 2003 RAM detection
> >>Date: Fri, 5 Nov 2004 19:06:03 +0100
> >>microsoft.public.windows.server.setup
> >>
> >>Hello,
> >>
> >>Dell is investigating. The combination of a PERC 4 raidcontroller
and 4G
> > of
> >>RAM is known (on an other server model) to take 1GB away for the
raid
> >>controller. They will contact me about this issue. I will keep you
posted
> >>and I hope for a resolution (the raid controller has 256 MB of on
baord
> >>memory and that should do fine without taking away memory from the
> > system).
> >>I hope for different firmware to be able to disbale this "feature".
> >>""Jeff Qiu [MSFT]"" <jefffqiu@online.microsoft.com> wrote in
message
> >>news:jodgJxhwEHA.3436@cpmsftngxa10.phx.gbl...
> >>> Hi John,
> >>>
> >>> Thank you for your update.
> >>>
> >>> Based on your system information, I did some further research
regarding
> >>> this SMBIOS and noticed that some known issues to this kind of
BIOS:
> >>>
> >>> Here is a link about the FAQ of this BIOS:
> >>> http://www.pcpitstop.com/faq/smbios.asp
> >>>
> >>> Currently, I did not get such a machine for test or debug.
> >>>
> >>> I believe DELL has to be involved as they are supposed to sell
out many
> >>> this kind of machines.
> >>>
> >>> If there is any updates, please feel free to let me know.
> >>>
> >>> Have a great day!
> >>>
> >>> Best Regards,
> >>>
> >>> Jeff Qiu
> >>> Microsoft Online Partner Support
> >>> MCSE 2k/2k3, MCSA 2k/2k3, MCDBA
> >>> Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
> >>>
> >>> =====================================================
> >>> When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your
newsreader so
> >>> that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
> >>> =====================================================
> >>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no
> >>> rights.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> --------------------
> >>>>From: <workinghard@news.postalias>
> >>>>Subject: Re: Windows 2003 RAM detection
> >>>>Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2004 00:30:55 +0100
> >>>>microsoft.public.windows.server.setup
> >>>>
> >>>>Hello there,
> >>>>
> >>>>In systemproperties and taskmanager 3GB
> >>>>In systemproperties advances, page file settings: 2GB, 4Gb max,
not
> >>>>indicating that it sees more then 3GB to me, but in msinfo32 we
see:
> >>>>
> >>>>OS Name Microsoft(R) Windows(R) Server 2003, Standard Edition
> >>>>Version 5.2.3790 Build 3790
> >>>>OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
> >>>>System Name
> >>>>System Manufacturer Dell Computer Corporation
> >>>>System Model PowerEdge 2850
> >>>>System Type X86-based PC
> >>>>Processor x86 Family 15 Model 3 Stepping 4 GenuineIntel ~3192 Mhz
> >>>>Processor x86 Family 15 Model 3 Stepping 4 GenuineIntel ~3192 Mhz
> >>>>Processor x86 Family 15 Model 3 Stepping 4 GenuineIntel ~3192 Mhz
> >>>>Processor x86 Family 15 Model 3 Stepping 4 GenuineIntel ~3192 Mhz
> >>>>BIOS Version/Date Dell Computer Corporation A01, 9/2/2004
> >>>>SMBIOS Version 2.3
> >>>>Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
> >>>>System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
> >>>>Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume2
> >>>>Locale United States
> >>>>Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.2.3790.0
> >>>>(srv03_rtm.030324-2048)"
> >>>>User Name Not Available
> >>>>Time Zone Romance Standard Time
> >>>>Total Physical Memory 4,096.00 MB
> >>>>Available Physical Memory 2.62 GB
> >>>>Total Virtual Memory 7.85 GB
> >>>>Available Virtual Memory 7.22 GB
> >>>>Page File Space 4.85 GB
> >>>>Page File C:\pagefile.sys
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>It looks like some tools are a bit "confused". The question is,
what
> >>>>does
> >>>>the server work with in reality ... and what will ohter tools
make of
> >>> this.
> >>>>I will conctact DELL. Thx for your time.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>""Jeff Qiu [MSFT]"" <jefffqiu@online.microsoft.com> wrote in
message
> >>>>news:hzTwiOYwEHA.3028@cpmsftngxa10.phx.gbl...
> >>>>> Hi John,
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Would you please confirm where exact you see the 3GB RAM?
> >>>>>
> >>>>> From System properties or the msinfo32 report?
> >>>>>
> >>>>> At the same time, some cases show that certain BIOS may keep
some RAM
> >>> from
> >>>>> accessed by the OS. Please contact the DELL to make sure this
model
> >>>>> of
> >>>>> computer can get all 4GB RAM detected by the OS.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Hope it helps!
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Best Regards,
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Jeff Qiu
> >>>>> Microsoft Online Partner Support
> >>>>> MCSE 2k/2k3, MCSA 2k/2k3, MCDBA
> >>>>> Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
> >>>>>
> >>>>> =====================================================
> >>>>> When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your
newsreader
> > so
> >>>>> that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
> >>>>> =====================================================
> >>>>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
confers no
> >>>>> rights.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> --------------------
> >>>>>>From: <workinghard@news.postalias>
> >>>>>>Subject: Re: Windows 2003 RAM detection
> >>>>>>Date: Tue, 2 Nov 2004 17:09:42 +0100
> >>>>>>microsoft.public.windows.server.setup
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>Hello,
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>No all diagnostics report 2*2GB of working RAM and available to
system
> >>>>>>(DELL) but the OS only sees 3GB. I expected to see 4, we are
running
> >>>>>>the
> >>>>>>lastes bios etc ...
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>""Jeff Qiu [MSFT]"" <jefffqiu@online.microsoft.com> wrote in
message
> >>>>>>news:SeBjYrmuEHA.764@cpmsftngxa10.phx.gbl...
> >>>>>>> Hi John,
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Do you have any update on this issue?
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> This mainly looks like a BIOS settings issue.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Can you find the correct RAM installed in the BIOS?
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> What Windows Server 2003 Edition you are using?
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Here is a link about the Comparation of Editions of Windows
Server
> >>> 2003:
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>
> >
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/features/compareeditio
> >>>>>>> ns.mspx
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> The Web Edition will only support 2GB RAM. If you get a
Standard
> >>>>>>> and
> >>>>>>> up,
> >>>>>>> it should detect 4G RAM correctly.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> At the same time, we may check the RAM by the following tool:
> >>>>>>> Windows Memory Diagnostic
> >>>>>>> http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp?SD=GN&gssnb=1
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Hope it helps!
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Best Regards,
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Jeff Qiu
> >>>>>>> Microsoft Online Partner Support
> >>>>>>> MCSE 2k/2k3, MCSA 2k/2k3, MCDBA
> >>>>>>> Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> =====================================================
> >>>>>>> When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your
> >>>>>>> newsreader
> >>> so
> >>>>>>> that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
> >>>>>>> =====================================================
> >>>>>>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
confers no
> >>>>>>> rights.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> --------------------
> >>>>>>>>From: <workinghard@news.postalias>
> >>>>>>>>Subject: Re: Windows 2003 RAM detection
> >>>>>>>>Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2004 20:21:14 +0200
> >>>>>>>>microsoft.public.windows.server.setup
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>No I checked this, no switches, plain vanilla boot.ini
> >>>>>>>>I thaught about spare memory row enabeling but that is per
RAM stick
> >>>>>>>>so
> >>>>> no
> >>>>>>>>joy there. I'm not at the loctaion now but I'll check the
bios for
> >>> some
> >>>>>>>>settings ...
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>"John Savill" <john@savilltech.com> wrote in message
> >>>>>>>>news:eudWAfgtEHA.2072@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> >>>>>>>>> Are there any switches specified in the boot.ini file (e.g.
3GB
> >>>>>>>>> which
> >>>>>>>>> would reduce to 3.75 GB)?
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> John
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> <workinghard@news.postalias> wrote in message
> >>>>>>>>> news:%23QnORXgtEHA.3572@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> >>>>>>>>>> Hello,
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> I have a brand new DELL PE 2850 with 4 GB of RAM (2*GB)
but
> >>>>>>>>>> Windows
> >>>>>>> 2003
> >>>>>>>>>> only reports 3GB. Dell diagnostics sees and finds the RAM
> >>> correctly.
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Please advise, thx!
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
- Next message: Phillip Windell: "Re: DHCP 80/20 rule fault tolerance"
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