Weird RRD Graph

HeDo · May 17, 2014, 2:18 AM

Hello,
I was checking the RRD graphs and I found something really weird.
I attached the RRD Memory graph, it seems that the memory is going up and down cyclically.
Configuration: pfSense virtual router behind ESXi 5.0, 512Mb ram and 1 core (intel xeon 1245 v2)
I installed the vmware tools and snort, all the other packages are standard.
Does anyone know the reason behind this behavior?

Thanks in advance

Luca

Harvy66 · May 17, 2014, 4:06 AM

I don't have any real experience with Snort, but I hear you should have 1GB-2GB of memory for it. Unless someone else chimes about this kind of memory graph, my first inclination would be to disable Snort and seeing if it goes away. You may just need to up your VM memory.

HeDo · May 17, 2014, 10:23 AM

Thank you, I will try to disable snort to check if it is the cause. No problem giving it 1gb ram

stephenw10 · May 17, 2014, 11:44 AM

Is it causing a problem? Makes the graphs look cool. ;)

Steve

HeDo · May 18, 2014, 12:56 PM

Ok, I disabled snort and the strange behavior stopped.
What's wrong with it?

stephenw10 · May 18, 2014, 1:05 PM

Like I say is it actually causing you a problem? Why do you think it's wrong?
What's the point of having RAM sitting unused in your box?

Steve

HeDo · May 19, 2014, 7:37 AM

Ehm, If I see my free memory going up and down without connection to the actual workload I think it is strange, isnt it?
I will try to give 1gb ram.

stephenw10 · May 19, 2014, 12:31 PM

Not necessarily. If Snort is slowly caching everything it looks at and then resets it when it reloads its ruleset that might produce a similar graph. If it's doing that without any traffic flowing through the box that would be more weird.

Steve