/3gb memory switch

The properties of sql server (EE 2000) show that the
instance is set to dynamically allocate 0 - 3895 MB.
There are 4gb of ram on the server. However, the /3gb
memory switch is not set in the boot.ini file. It looks
like that this is what is happening -- sql server
recognizes all of the memory in the server, but the OS
prevents user processes from utilizing more than 2 GB. Is
this as expected? I'm getting ready to set the /3gb
switch and need a little reassurance. It is also my
understanding, that AWE does not need to be enabled when
dealing with a server with only 4GB of RAM. The only
change I need to make is the /3gb switch in the boot.ini
file -- can someone confirm?You are correct. /3B switch will allow the SQL process to use 3GB of user
memory instead of 2GB user memory.
AWE is for servers with greater than 4GB of physical memory.
Geoff N. Hiten
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Senior Database Administrator
Careerbuilder.com
I support the Professional Association for SQL Server
www.sqlpass.org
"superboy" <anonymous@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:f92301c3f197$e266ced0$a501280a@.phx.gbl...
> The properties of sql server (EE 2000) show that the
> instance is set to dynamically allocate 0 - 3895 MB.
> There are 4gb of ram on the server. However, the /3gb
> memory switch is not set in the boot.ini file. It looks
> like that this is what is happening -- sql server
> recognizes all of the memory in the server, but the OS
> prevents user processes from utilizing more than 2 GB. Is
> this as expected? I'm getting ready to set the /3gb
> switch and need a little reassurance. It is also my
> understanding, that AWE does not need to be enabled when
> dealing with a server with only 4GB of RAM. The only
> change I need to make is the /3gb switch in the boot.ini
> file -- can someone confirm?