Resolving Memory Errors When a Volume Is Mounting

To diagnose memory error problems when a traditional volume mounts, identify whether the following conditions exist:

• Volumes take more memory to mount than they require after being mounted because the mounting process performs consistency checks (for example, the duplicate copies of all the tables are checked).
• Volumes and directory entries grow dynamically. Therefore, if your server is using most of the RAM (file cache buffers are close to 20% of the memory) and you dismount a volume, you might not be able to remount the volume unless additional memory is available.
• Each additional name space support that you add to a volume increases the size of the file allocation tables and directory entry tables. Adding name space support can cause the tables to grow so large that the server does not have enough RAM to mount the volume.

To resolve memory errors when a volume mounts, perform the following actions or ensure that the following conditions exist:

• Check the status of the available cache buffers. If the cache buffers are fewer than 20%, add more RAM to your server.
• Free up memory by unloading resources.
• On volumes using the traditional file system streamline the directory structure. Each subdirectory takes at least one directory block (by default, a 4 KB block of memory). Therefore, subdirectories with only one file require as much memory as directories with 32 files. Check the 4 KB size.

  If you combine directories so that most directories have about 32 files and you then purge the deleted subdirectories and files, you will free up memory.

• Calculate how much memory you need and add memory to the server.
• Remove the recently added name space support.

  WARNING:  This is a destructive step that destroys all the extended file information. Before taking this step, try to free up enough memory so that the volume mounts and you can back up the data.

  Have all users log out and then unload all NLM programs except the volume's disk drivers. Dismount any mounted volumes.

  To remove the name space on a traditional volume, load VREPAIR and select Set VRepair Options. Then select the Remove Name Space Support from the Volume and Write All Directory and FAT Entries Out to Disk options. Then exit to the main menu. Run VREPAIR > Repair a Volume on the volume that would not mount.