SQL Server memory allocation on linux

Question

Are there any different on how linux allcation memory to SQL Server , from that in Windows memory allocation to SQL Server ? Any links to talk about ?

Answer 1

Note that the big difference is that Linux doesn't have the feedback mechanism to the processes when it is memory constrained. On Windows, we know that SQL Server can reduce its memory usage thanks to this. This is briefly mentioned here: https://bornsql.ca/blog/proposed-sql-server-defaults-max-server-memory/

Answer 2

I would not expect there to be. Microsoft has implemented SQLPAL, Physical Abstraction Layer, so most parts of the SQL Server code doesn't have to care which platform it's own. You can read more about it here: https://sqlserveronlinuxbackup.com/sql-server-linux-how/

Answer 3

Hi @sakuraime ,

The default setting for max server memory on Windows is 2,147,483,647 megabytes (MB) . In order to ensure there is enough free physical memory for the Linux Operating System, the SQL Server process uses only 80% of the physical RAM by default.

Please refer to Proposed SQL Server defaults: max server memory.

Best regards,
Cathy

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Answer 4

It is bit different, Erland mentioned about SQLPAL and this is a major component in memory management of SQL Server residing on Linux machine. Read below blog it has in details explained how memory management works in SQL Server residing on linux

sql-server-on-linux-how-introduction