Note: The /3GB switch is not required for all, or even most, users of FME. The /3GB switch will only benefit those who require translations that will not currently run with 2GB of addressable memory.
Thirty-two-bit versions of the Windows operating system can manage a maximum of 4GB of addressable memory. The 4GB is divided into 2GB for user applications and 2GB for kernel processes. This means that any given application is restricted to 2GB of memory.
Beginning with FME 2006 GB, FME takes advantage of a /3GB switch which causes the operating system to divide the available 4GB of memory into 3GB for user applications and 1GB for kernel processes. Many translations that previously failed due to memory limitations will now run successfully when the /3GB switch is used.
The /3GB switch is supported on the following operating systems:
The /3GB switch is not supported on Windows 2000 Server.
FME 2006 GB and greater.
bcdedit /set IncreaseUserVa 3072
bcdedit /deletevalue IncreaseUserVa
Before FME can use the /3GB switch, you will need to edit your system’s boot.ini file.
You can access this file by doing the following:
Under [operating systems], there should be a line that ends with /fastdetect. Add /3GB to the end of this line.
The following is an example of a boot.ini file before the /3GB switch has been added:
[boot loader] timeout=30 default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS [operating systems] multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
When the /3GB switch is added, the above boot.ini file should look like the following:
[boot loader] timeout=30 default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS [operating systems] multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /3GB
You will now need to restart your computer. When your computer has finished rebooting, your translation should be able to finish without running out of memory.
Note: It is recommended that you remove the /3GB switch when you don’t require it.
Simply remove the /3GB switch from your boot.ini
file and restart your computer.
It doesn't need to! For 64-bit versions of windows, FME can take advantage of 4GB of addressable memory. If you are running FME on a 64-bit version of Windows, no further action is required. Translations that previously failed because of limited memory should now work.
For more information, see this documentation from Microsoft (http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/memory/base/4gt_ram_tuning.asp).
Both this link (http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/PAE/PAEmem.mspx) and this link (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;328882&Product=exch2k) have some good information.