5 Common Traps on Cloud Server RAM

With our current special to nearly double the RAM included with our standard nodes (and newly created RAM nodes) we decided to talk a little more about RAM. This post is three of three posts dedicated to our friend in the cloud; RAM.

The amount of RAM, short for random access memory, available on your VPS will be among the key determinants of its performance. It’s important that you clearly understand the amount RAM you have and how your system is using it.

    1. Confusing RAM and Storage

A common error is to confuse RAM with other elements that seem similar to “memory,” including CPU or disk space. RAM can be conceptualized as a “scratch-pad” or a temporary workspace that the system uses to perform computing operations.
Generally, it’s quicker for a server to pull data from RAM than it is to access the same data off the hard disk.  Thus, your VPS could have plenty of room left to store disk data but could be running low on server memory capacity.  This will negatively impact your web applications and some instances cause them to fail.

    1. Choosing a Package with too Little RAM

Because RAM is so important for the proper functioning of your VPS, it’s often a big factor in how much you’ll pay for your hosting package. This can make it tempting to purchase a VPS package with a smaller amount of RAM, which may be cheaper. Unfortunately, this can have a harmful effect on the performance of your system – especially if you’re going to run higher-traffic sites or memory-intensive applications.
If you’re only running a single static website, 512 MB of RAM may be perfectly sufficient. If you are planning to run several websites, especially if any of them will serve dynamic content, you will certainly need more. A 1GB package may be sufficient but a VPS serving high-traffic websites can need twice that.

    1. Assuming that a RAM Upgrade is the Only Option

In situations where a lack of free server memory capacity is beginning to impact on performance, it may seem as if there is no alternative to a memory upgrade. In fact, there are several steps you can take to reduce the amount of RAM your system uses. These include reconfiguring the webserver (Apache or IIS) implementation you’re using, reconfiguring databases (SQL Server or MySQL) and disabling any control panels, services or applications you don’t use.

    1. Confusing Used and Unused RAM

The way that memory usage is presented by the various Linux analysis commands can be confusing. Linux regards cache and buffer memory as “used,” which one would intuitively expect to signify that this memory was unavailable for use by applications. In fact, cache and buffer memory is free. This can create the impression that you are out of memory when you have plenty of available RAM.

    1. Confusing RAM with Burstable RAM

Burstable or backup RAM is a pool of extra RAM that your VPS can take advantage of if there’s an unexpected spike in demand for memory (for example, if traffic suddenly increases). It is not the same as the standard working memory of your VPS and is only intended for temporary situations.
Conclusion
It’s important to familiarize yourself with the facts about memory usage in a VPS if you are serving sites commercially. Problems with RAM can lead to poor performance and site outages, driving away visitors. Always purchase more RAM than you think you’ll need.  While there a number of ways to maximize your RAM usage, Linux cloud servers always allow you to quickly purchase additional memory, generally for a low fee, giving maximum business agility.
Key Takeaways

  • RAM is distinct from data storage or the CPU.
  • RAM is a key factor in site performance and service
  • Burstable RAM is only for temporary spikes. Consider purchasing additional RAM if you think traffic will continue going up.

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