LargeSystemCache
Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2
LargeSystemCache
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management
| Data type | Range | Default value |
|---|---|---|
REG_DWORD |
0 | 1 |
Windows XP Professional: 0 Windows Server 2003: 1 |
Description
Specifies whether the system maintains a standard size or a large size file system cache, and influences how often the system writes changed pages to disk.
Increasing the size of the file system cache generally improves server performance, but it reduces the physical memory space available to applications and services. Similarly, writing system data less frequently minimizes use of the disk subsystem, but the changed pages occupy memory that might otherwise be used by applications.
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
0 |
Establishes a standard size file-system cache of approximately 8 MB. The system allows changed pages to remain in physical memory until the number of available pages drops to approximately 1,000. This setting is recommended for servers running applications that do their own memory caching, such as Microsoft SQL Server, and for applications that perform best with ample memory, such as Internet Information Services (IIS). |
1 |
Establishes a large system cache working set that can expand to physical memory, minus 4 MB, if needed. The system allows changed pages to remain in physical memory until the number of available pages drops to approximately 250. This setting is recommended for most computers running Windows Server 2003 on large networks. |
This entry and the Size entry (which is in the HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters subkey) store the setting of the Optimization section of the Server Optimization tab in Network and Dial-up Connections.
| Option setting | Large System Cache value | Size value |
|---|---|---|
Minimize memory used |
0 |
1 |
Balance |
0 |
2 |
Maximize data throughput for file sharing |
1 |
3 |
Maximize data throughput for network applications |
0 |
3 |
Change Method
To change the value of this entry on Windows Server 2003, use the Server Optimization tab in Network and Dial-up Connections. Right-click My Network Places, click Properties, right-click Local Area Connection, click Properties, click File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks, and then click the Properties button. To set the value of this entry to 0, select the Maximize data throughput for network applications option. To set the value to 1, select Maximize data throughput for file sharing.
Note
Because setting the value of this entry to 1 is not recommended for computers running Windows XP Professional, you cannot use Network and Dial-up Connections in Windows XP Professional to change the value of this entry.
The Windows Server 2003 default value (1) is designed for file servers. Because this value can degrade service performance, it is not recommended for application servers. If you are running an application server, change the value of this entry to 0 by selecting the Maximize data throughput for network applications option in Network and Dial-up Connections.
The system sets the value of this entry to 1 when you install Windows Server 2003. But many applications, such as SQL Server and Microsoft Exchange, change the value of this entry to 0.