Windows 2000 Administration in a Nutshell

Name

pagefile

Synopsis

A hidden file that provides virtual memory for applications requiring more memory than the available RAM.

Description

Windows 2000 Server swaps code between physical memory (RAM) and a hidden file on the hard disk called the pagefile or paging file. This creates the illusion of virtual memory, that is, that the system has much more memory than it actually has (RAM + pagefile = virtual memory). The paging file is called pagefile.sys and is located by default on the root of the partition where the operating-system files are installed.

A pagefile that is too small limits the number of applications that can run simultaneously on the computer. More importantly, a small pagefile will cause information to be paged more frequently between RAM and disk, resulting in degraded system performance. On the other hand, a pagefile that is too large simply wastes disk space.

For information on managing the pagefile on Windows 2000 Server, see pagefile.

Performance and the Pagefile

The initial size of the pagefile should be no less than 1.5 times the RAM in your system. If your pagefile is spread across multiple partitions, then apply this guideline to the total paging file for all drives.

The pagefile grows as it is stressed when multiple applications are used. If it reaches its specified maximum size, it cannot grow any further and starting additional applications will not be possible.

If you have multiple physical disks in your computer, performance can be enhanced by spreading ...