Summary
RAM increases to 99% every time backup jobs run
Product
FileMaker Server
Version
12.0.1.178
Operating system version
Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard 64 bit
Description of the issue
Every time the backup runs the Used Physical Memory gradually increases to 99% and maintains that level until the job is finished. And then it immediately goes back down to the 20 to 29% range.
Steps to reproduce the problem
Problem occurs every time the backup runs at 6:00am, 12 noon and 6:00pm.
Configuration information
We have cleared space on the C drive so that at least 50% is available. The physical RAM has been increased from 4 GB's to 12 GB's. Virtual Memory has been increased to 18 GB's. And just today, the Database cache was increased from 128 MB's to 3072 MB's. All of these efforts have been fruitless, unfortunately. Besides Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager, there really is no significant applications running on this server. Not really sure where else to turn now.
Kevin Simmons:
Thank you for the post.
Does the issue occur with FileMaker Server 12 (Advanced) updated to the latest version?
Software Update: FileMaker Server 12.0v4 and FileMaker Server 12.0v4 Advanced release notes
Backing up a file of any significant size is an intensive memory process and will utilize any and all available resources provided by the CPU and RAM. For a computer program to be suffering from a "memory leak" the RAM is both used during processing and then not returned to the operating system once the processing completes.
Please report back with the tests results after updating to FileMaker Server 12.0v4 (Advanced).
PhilModJunk is correct that best practice is to schedule backups during downtime when nobody is using the database file.
Since you mentioned Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager, please note that best practice is to exclude the hosted databases from scans by third party security or antivirus software as this may lead to file corruption.
Antivirus Software May Cause File Corruption
Is it safe for antivirus software to scan FileMaker files?
"If scanning of the files is necessary, please schedule the antivirus software so that it does NOT scan during the time FileMaker Server is backing up the database files. It is preferable to scan the database files after the files have been backed up completely."
TSFalcon
FileMaker, Inc.