VAX/VMS V5.5-2 Memory Requirements

From: ajp166 <ajp166_at_bellatlantic.net>
Date: Wed Aug 30 21:05:34 2000

>But slow is the idea believe it or not :^) The idea is to have it slow
>enough that any improvements are noticable, so I'll start with 5MB, and
bump
>it up to 9MB if that's to bad. Part of the idea is also to have
DECwindows
>running so I'll be giving fixing the VR260 a try. I'd been running this
>system without the VR260 using a terminal because I didn't have space
for the
>monitor, would't you know it now that I do...


5mb is more reasonable. At 4mb doing a help screen is going to age you
as it swaps itself dizzy. If memory serves the resident portion of
VMS5.5
is around 3800 blocks and in 5mb there is at least a meg of loose space.

I have two MVIIs so I know what your doing and how slow slow is. An
aside for tuning, since the system swaps a fair amount (worse at minimal
ram)
a second disk with the PRIMARY page and swap files on it makes a huge
difference. this is more effective if the second disk has it's own
controller.
A good drive for swap/page files is a RD52 (quantum D540) as it's fast
and
easily found (and run forever). Of course space and power for that
dictates
a BA123. The #2 MVII is a ba23 with CMD SCSI for the main drives and
one lonesome RD52 on RQDX3 for standalone backup and page/swap files.

Another trick is running VMStailor(remove unated stuff and libraries) and
then doing an image backup and restore (defrag the disk).

>Besides for fast I've got the PWS433au w/320MB RAM running V7.2 :^)


That would be a tad faster. ;)

Allison
Received on Wed Aug 30 2000 - 21:05:34 BST