3.2 Virtual Memory Flashcards
What is virtual memory?
A section of storage allocated by the operating system to emulate physical RAM when memory is low.
What is the purpose of virtual memory?
To allow more programs to run simultaneously and prevent ‘out of memory’ errors.
What is the term for virtual memory in Windows?
Page file.
What is the term for virtual memory in Linux and macOS?
Swap space.
How does virtual memory work?
It moves less frequently used data from physical memory to the storage device and retrieves it when needed.
What are pages in virtual memory?
Memory chunks, typically 4 kilobytes in size, used for data transfers between RAM and virtual memory.
What are the advantages of virtual memory?
It prevents crashes and allows the system to run more programs than physical memory can support.
Why is virtual memory slower than physical RAM?
It relies on storage devices, which have significantly slower read/write speeds compared to RAM.
What is excessive use of virtual memory called, and why is it problematic?
Paging; it causes slowdowns due to frequent data transfers between RAM and storage.
Why are mechanical hard drives less efficient for virtual memory?
They have physical read/write limitations, making data transfer slower compared to SSDs.
What is the best long-term solution for memory issues?
Upgrading physical RAM to reduce reliance on virtual memory.
What should you consider when adjusting virtual memory size?
Ensure adequate free space on the storage drive and temporarily increase the page file size if needed.
How can you monitor virtual memory usage?
Use system tools to check memory utilization and detect heavy reliance on virtual memory.
Why is upgrading RAM better than increasing virtual memory size?
RAM provides faster and more consistent performance compared to storage-based virtual memory.
What are the key limitations of virtual memory?
Significant performance impact and slower speed compared to physical RAM.
