IntermediatePhone
2 min
Troubleshooting High Memory in Linux
LinuxTroubleshootingSystem Administration
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Interview Question
A server reports high memory usage. What quick checks do you perform to identify the cause?
Key Points to Cover
- Use `free -m`, `top`/`htop` sorted by RES to find processes
- Check caches/buffers and `vmstat`/`sar` for trends
- Inspect OOM events and logs (`dmesg`, `/var/log/messages`)
Evaluation Rubric
Uses appropriate observation tools40% weight
Interprets cache vs real pressure30% weight
Mentions OOM and logs review30% weight
Hints
- 💡Remember Linux page cache can appear as “used”.
Potential Follow-up Questions
- ❓How to find memory leaks?
- ❓What is swapiness and when to tune it?
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