INFO: Minimum and Maximum Memory Used by Eddie
  
PSS ID Number: Q174410
Article last modified on 09-29-1997
 
IRIX:3.5
 
IRIX
 

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The information in this article applies to:
 
 - Softimage Eddie for IRIX, version 3.5
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SUMMARY
=======
 
This article provides an explanation of the available minimum and maximum
memory settings.
 
Maximum Memory
==============
 
The Memory to Use value defines the maximum memory allocated to Eddie.
Regardless of the available memory, the Eddie process can not use more than
what is specified. You can also define a value that is higher than the
total RAM. If you do, a warning message appears, but clicking OK sets the
Memory to Use limit to the specified value. There are two ways to set the
Memory to Use value:
 
 - in the Preferences dialog box
 
 -or-
 
 - setting the EDDIEMEM environment variable.
 
The following are two advantages for specifying a Memory to Use value:
 
 -  Performance enhancements: By specifying a limit that is equal to the
    available memory (free RAM), it is not necessary for Eddie to use swap
    space thereby reducing processing times. For example, when you start
    Eddie the osview command (documented in the Eddie manual) reports that
    the free RAM is 50 megs. However, you have 128 megs of RAM, so you can
    set the Memory To Use value to 50 megs, therefore limiting the amount
    Eddie uses.
 
 -  If Eddie only uses a portion of the available memory, you can run other
    processes. For example, if you have 200 megs available (RAM free + swap
    space free), you can limit Eddie to use 50 megs, leaving 150
    megs available for other processes.
 
Minimum Memory
--------------
 
Regardless of other memory settings, the EDDIE_MIN_MEM_LIMIT environment
variable determines the limit to the system's minimum available memory. If
the environment variable is not set, the default setting is 7 megs. This
means that when there are only 7 megs remaining, Eddie flushes previously
rendered (and possibly unused) images rather than using more memory
resources. By keeping the default setting of 7 megs, other processes can
run properly. You can increase the value if you find that 7 megs is not
sufficient to start certain processes, such as another Eddie process, which
require about 15 Megs or hi-res files that require at least equal to Xres X
Yres X 4.
 
REFERENCES
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If you have any questions concerning the information contained in this
article, contact support@softimage.com by e-mail.
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Keywords          : ed si sied
Version           : IRIX:3.5
Platform          : IRIX
Issue type        : kbinfo
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Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1997.