Buffer/Cache memory usage by Firefox

[Member buddy1812]

Now that I have things working I have been paying attention to what Conky is displaying as to memory usage. I have been mainly using Firefox just to see how it behaves on antiX. What I have noticed is that the memory used pre and post Firefox session seems to indicate that memory used by Firefox is not being free-up.

Here is what I see at the terminal,

$ free mem
total used free shared buff/cache available ——> Start of antiX session <————–
Mem: 3620272 113904 3304060 2900 202308 3378760
Swap: 3850236 0 3850236

$ free mem
total used free shared buff/cache available ——> Firefox running <——-
Mem: 3620272 307120 2978108 12204 335044 3175544
Swap: 3850236 0 3850236

$ free mem
total used free shared buff/cache available
Mem: 3620272 116664 3176680 2900 326928 3375352
Swap: 3850236 0 3850236

$ free mem
total used free shared buff/cache available ——> Firefox running <——-
Mem: 3620272 369308 2890624 29144 360340 3096220
Swap: 3850236 0 3850236

$ free mem
total used free shared buff/cache available
Mem: 3620272 117468 3158332 2900 344472 3374332
Swap: 3850236 0 3850236

>>>>> I did not run the free command to see what Firefox was using <<<<< ——> Firefox running <——-

$ free mem
total used free shared buff/cache available
Mem: 3620272 117708 3155328 2900 347236 3373996
Swap: 3850236 0 3850236

$ free mem
total used free shared buff/cache available ——> Firefox running <——-
Mem: 3620272 322856 2909400 42368 388016 3129336
Swap: 3850236 0 3850236

$ free mem
total used free shared buff/cache available
Mem: 3620272 118524 3154068 2900 347680 3373188
Swap: 3850236 0 3850236

Is Firefox responsible for not clearing out the buff/cache or has it left something that is still running on the system ?

[Forum Admin BitJam]

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buddy1812 wrote:

Is Firefox responsible for not clearing out the buff/cache or has it left something that is still running on the system ?

Buff/cache is usually not freed automatically unless there is pressure to get that memory back. You can free up as much buff/cache as possible with the command:echo 3 | sudo tee /proc/sys/vm/drop_caches
It was hard to read your tables without formating. If I misunderstood your point, I apologize.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by BitJam.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by BitJam.

Context is worth 80 IQ points -- Alan Kay

[Member buddy1812]

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Interesting behaviour !!!

I just tried the same experiment with Chromium and saw even more dramatic (I think I am overdoing it) behaviour,

$ free mem
total used free shared buff/cache available
Mem: 3620272 121680 3144304 2916 354288 3369860
Swap: 3850236 0 3850236

$ free mem
total used free shared buff/cache available ——> Chromium running <——-
Mem: 3620272 223844 2902860 3420 493568 3265052
Swap: 3850236 0 3850236

$ free mem
total used free shared buff/cache available
Mem: 3620272 123120 3003704 2916 493448 3366448
Swap: 3850236 0 3850236

$ free mem
total used free shared buff/cache available ——> Chromium running <——-
Mem: 3620272 226528 2894764 4484 498980 3260624
Swap: 3850236 0 3850236

$ free mem
total used free shared buff/cache available
Mem: 3620272 123432 3000196 2916 496644 3365292
Swap: 3850236 0 3850236

Will do as you suggest. Thank You 🙂

[Member buddy1812]

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I just tried that command and I have a surprise,

$ free mem
total used free shared buff/cache available
Mem: 3620272 123432 3000196 2916 496644 3365292
Swap: 3850236 0 3850236

$ echo 3 | sudo tee /proc/sys/vm/drop_caches
3

$ free mem
total used free shared buff/cache available
Mem: 3620272 122720 3402104 3176 95448 3370300
Swap: 3850236 0 3850236

More was used !!!!

EDIT: My apologise !!!!!!!!! I did not clean my glasses this morning. IT DID CLEAR THE CACHE.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by buddy1812.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by buddy1812.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by buddy1812.

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