Looks like you're missing ram is just disk cache.  Linux takes a "Free ram
is wasted ram" attitude.  Basicly just using up all the ram you have a disk
cache to speed up most things.  When ram is needed for normal stuff it frees
up the least used/older part of the disk cache so that you can use it.

Brian Cluff

----- Original Message -----

> Here a simple one (ha, ha, ha).  I reboot my machine, boot into X (4.0.3).
> I log in and KDE 2.1 shows up.  I pull up Eterm and type top.  It's using
>
> Initial Logon:
> Mem:   384136K av,   68104K used,  316032K free,       0K shrd,    2268K
buff
> Swap:  530104K av,       0K used,  530104K free
34472Kcached
>
> 2 hrs later
> Mem:   384136K av,  133620K used,  250516K free,       0K shrd,    4640K
buff
> Swap:  530104K av,       0K used,  530104K free
60572Kcached
>
> 2 days later
> Mem:   384136K av,  374572K used,    9564K free,       0K shrd,    1396K
buff
> Swap:  530104K av,     108K used,  529996K free
138140Kcached
>
> How do you begin to really track this memory consuption down.  Keep in
mind I
> am using this machine and I need to continue to use this.  Oddly, I never
> seem to used my swap, even if I'm doing some heavy computing (CAE design
> drawing)
>
> All suggestions welcome.  It looks like something isn't properly releasing
> the memory...  How can I track this..
>
> Thanks
> --
>
> Steven M. Klass
> Physical Design Engineering Manager
>
> Andigilog Inc.
> 7404 W. Detroit Street, Suite 100
> Chandler, AZ 85226
> Ph: 480-940-6200 ext. 18
> Fax: 480-940-4255
>
> sklass@andigilog.com
> http://www.andigilog.com
>
> ________________________________________________
> See http://PLUG.phoenix.az.us/navigator-mail.shtml if your mail doesn't
post to the list quickly and you use Netscape to write mail.
>
> PLUG-discuss mailing list  -  PLUG-discuss@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us
> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss