Is Your Server's RAM Really Full? ZFS & Caching Explained

Is your Proxmox server showing shockingly high RAM usage? Don't panic! It might not be a problem, but actually a feature. In this video, we dive deep into how ZFS and its Adaptive Replacement Cache (ARC) use your server's memory to boost performance. We'll explain how ARC intelligently caches frequently accessed data in RAM, reducing slow disk I/O. You'll learn why Linux often jokes that "unused memory is wasted memory". We'll also show you how to use the free command to understand the difference between used memory, cached memory, and available memory. If needed, we'll explore how to fine-tune ZFS ARC usage, set limits on RAM consumption, and monitor its effectiveness using tools like arc_summary. Plus, we'll cover what to do if high memory usage is NOT from ZFS, such as overprovisioning, memory leaks, and buffer growth. By the end of this video, you'll be able to confidently understand your Proxmox memory usage and ensure your server runs smoothly.