SBS 2003 - only see's 3GB or RAM? (4GB installed!)

feenster99 · 27 Apr 2008 at 19:27

Hi all,
Are there any tricks that you have to use in SBS 2003 to get it to see 4GB of RAM? I've upgraded with 4 x 1GB sticks (which are detected in POST and in Windows using SIW), but the task manager only shows 3GB installed.

I've read about and tried the /3GB switch on the boot.ini but it doesn't seem to make any difference. Is there another way to do it?

Matt

Burnsy2023 · 27 Apr 2008 at 19:32

Are you using the 32 or 64 bit version?

Burnsy

csmager · 27 Apr 2008 at 19:32

I'd guess as it's an 32-bit OS, it's not going to be able to make use of 4Gb.

3.5Gb is probably the best you could hope for.

csmager · 27 Apr 2008 at 19:35

Burnsy2023 said:
Are you using the 32 or 64 bit version?

Afaik, there is no 64-bit version of SBS 2003.

Burnsy2023 · 27 Apr 2008 at 19:39

csmager said:
Afaik, there is no 64-bit version of SBS 2003.

Apparently you're right. That's surprising.

Burnsy

feenster99 · 27 Apr 2008 at 19:41

I did buzz round Google when i hit the problem. The full 4GB can be detected in SBS 2003, and numerous people have it so. However, it didn't want to play in the Server i put it in

Matt

csmager · 27 Apr 2008 at 19:46

It's only technically possible with PAE (Physical Address Extension). You'd have to enable it in boot.ini (/PAE). Not all chipsets support it, and there can be issues with it too.

feenster99 · 27 Apr 2008 at 19:47

Hi,
What sort of issues might i encounter with it?

Matt

csmager · 27 Apr 2008 at 19:54

feenster99 said:
Hi,
What sort of issues might i encounter with it?

Matt

Think it's something to do with drivers that need DMA - the 32-bit drivers weren't written to access more then the 32-bit address space.

I've never used PAE, so I've no idea how much of an issue it is.

MaXXeH · 27 Apr 2008 at 20:06

i have used the PAE switch many times and it does work fine. It uses the 500mb for dumping, caching infomation.

feenster99 · 27 Apr 2008 at 22:18

Thanks guys. I'll give it a try.

Matt

Baz · 28 Apr 2008 at 09:16

Also check whether the server is holding back 1GB ram as redundant.. I know our servers can and do this.

VeNT · 28 Apr 2008 at 11:06

anyone know if this is still gonna be that way in sbs 08? we're holding off getting a server till its relesed (anyone know an eta?) but the offer we've been given for a server inc 6gb of ram,
would like to use more than half of it!!

ninja edit.

I know about the 32bit limit, what I wanted to know was is there going to be a 64bit SBS for server 2008?

csmager · 28 Apr 2008 at 11:09

More than likely going to be 64-bit only for SBS08 - it'll include Exchange 2007, and MS doesn't officially support a 32-bit version of Ex07.

NathanE · 28 Apr 2008 at 11:31

Burnsy2023 said:
Apparently you're right. That's surprising.

Burnsy

It's called "Small Business Server" for a reason. What small business needs a mammoth domain controller and exchange server? At most they are looking at 20 employees. 3.5GB of memory is easily enough.

Ours runs on 1GB

yoda · 28 Apr 2008 at 11:37

our SBS 2003 server is using PAE.... except it reporting out of memory errors while running certain queery sequences...