Excessive Swapping

[Julian Field]

Gregory Wong wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> I have a server that has 256MB of RAM. It is running Postfix, MS, 
> MailScanner-MRTG on Ubuntu Server. 
Ouch!
> I have noticed recently that it has been swapping a lot.
Funny, that...
>
> total used free shared buffers cached
> Mem: 256 204 51 0 0 18
> -/+ buffers/cache: 185 70
> Swap: 511 152 359
>
> I am looking to implement MailWatch but am concerned that the server 
> doesn’t have an adequate amount of memory. Is this excessive swapping 
> normal? Should I be upgrading the RAM?
MailScanner wants about 1Gb of RAM per CPU. MailWatch will need another 
few hundred megs probably.
>
> Also, my company got hit on Saturday with nearly 1600 spam messages 
> (which is unusual since we only get about 200-300 spam per day). 
> Besides running MS and the default SA rules, what other things do you 
> recommend I configure to help combat the spam?
Start by adding a couple of Gigs of RAM, as then you can reasonably run 
Razor, DCC and a pile of extra rulesets for SpamAssassin. Look through 
the mailing list archives (or the wiki) for a "HOWTO" I posted last July 
2007. Get all that lot going and your spam rate will improve a lot.

But you aren't going to be able to do anything until you spend a few 
dollars on some RAM.

Jules

-- 
Julian Field MEng CITP CEng
www.MailScanner.info
Buy the MailScanner book at www.MailScanner.info/store

MailScanner customisation, or any advanced system administration help?
Contact me at Jules at Jules.FM

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