Enabling Memory Support for Over 4 GB of Physical Memory

To enable Address Windowing Extensions (AWE) for Microsoft SQL Server, you must run the SQL Server 2005 Database Engine under a Microsoft Windows account that has been assigned the Lock Pages in Memory option and use sp_configure to set the awe enabled option to 1. The Maximize data throughput for network application option of Network Connection in Control Panel must be selected.

Lock Pages in Memory

This policy determines which accounts can use a process to keep data in physical memory, preventing the system from paging the data to virtual memory on disk. The Lock Pages in Memory option is set to OFF by default in SQL Server 2005. If you have system administrator permissions, you can enable the option manually by using the Windows Group Policy tool (gpedit.msc) and assign this permission to the account that SQL Server is running.

For more information about how to enable the Lock Pages in Memory option, see How to: Enable the Lock Pages in Memory Option (Windows).

Although it is not required, we recommend locking pages in memory when using 64-bit operating systems. For 32-bit operating systems, Lock pages in memory permission must be granted before AWE is configured for SQL Server.

The awe enabled Option

To enable AWE for an instance of SQL Server 2005, use sp_configure to set the awe enabled option to 1, and then restart SQL Server. Because AWE is enabled during SQL Server startup and lasts until SQL Server shutdown, SQL Server will notify users when awe enabled is in use by sending an "Address Windowing Extensions enabled" message to the SQL Server error log. For more information about the awe enabled configuration option, see awe enabled Option.

Maximize Data Throughput for Network Application

If the Maximize data throughput for file sharing option is selected in Network Connection, the operating system gives priority to applications that perform buffered input/output (I/O) operations by caching their I/O pages in file system cache. This option may limit memory available to SQL Server for normal operation.

To check the current setting on your operating system:

1. In Control Panel, double-click Network Connections, and then double-click Local Area Connection.
2. On the General tab, click Properties, select File and Printer Sharing Microsoft Networks, and then click Properties.
3. Select Maximize data throughput for network applications, click OK, and then close the rest of the dialog boxes.

For more information about using AWE, see the Windows documentation.

See Also

Tasks

How to: Configure the awe enabled Option (SQL Server Management Studio)

Concepts

Using AWE
Enabling AWE Memory for SQL Server

Help and Information

Getting SQL Server 2005 Assistance

Change History