Configuring Page Files for Optimization and Recovery

• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.51, 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
• Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.51, 4.0

SUMMARY

Windows NT Server, by default, will place the pagefile on the boot partition where the operating system is installed. The size of the pagefile will be determined by taking the amount of physical RAM and then adding 12 MB to that. However, placing the pagefile on the boot partition does not optimize performance because Windows NT has to perform disk I/O on both the system directory and the pagefile. Therefore, it is recommended that you place the pagefile on a different partition and different physical hard disk drive so that Windows NT can handle multiple I/O requests in a quicker fashion.

However, completely removing the pagefile from the system partition does not allow Windows NT to create a crash dump file (Memory.dmp) should a kernel mode STOP error occur. Not having this crash dump file could lead to extended server downtime should the STOP require a debug to be performed.

The optimal solution is to create one pagefile on the system partition using the default settings and create one pagefile on another less frequently used partition. The best option is to create the second pagefile so that it is on its own partition, with no data or operating system-specific files.

Windows NT will use the pagefile on the less frequently used partition over the pagefile on the heavily used boot partition. Windows NT uses an internal algorithm to determine which page file to use for virtual memory management. With the above scenario, the following goals of the page file would be served:

• The system will be properly configured to capture a Memory.dmp file should the computer have a kernel mode STOP error.



• The page file on the less frequently used partition will be used the majority of the time because it is not on a busy partition.

MORE INFORMATION

Another advantage of using a pagefile on its own partition is that the pagefile will not become fragmented. If the pagefile is on a partition with other data, the pagefile might experience fragmentation as it expands to satisfy the extra virtual memory required. A defragmented pagefile leads to faster virtual memory access as well as improves the chances of capturing a dump file without significant errors.

Additional query words: page file multiple pagefile dump file

Keywords          : ntstop 
Version           : WinNT:3.51,4.0
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbinfo 

Last Reviewed: February 26, 1999