RAM disks not listed in memory usage
@Freddi
Submitted by Freddi Link to original bug (#766843)
Description
When using a RAM disk (eg. for /tmp) its contribution to memory usage is hidden in system-monitor.
Issue: The more memory is used by the RAM disk, the less memory is available to other processes. Once all memory is full, the system can not operate normally (system may swap or lock up). Thus the user is interested 1) to know before all free memory is used up and 2) to identify what are possible causes.
Actual behavior: In system-monitor 3.16 (Ubuntu 15.10), memory used by RAM disks was neither the Processes tab nor in the total memory usage on the Ressources tab considered memory occupied by RAM disks. Thus the computer would suddenly lock up at an unknown percentage between 5–8 of 8GB.
In system-monitor 3.18.2 (Ubuntu 16.04), the Ressources tab correctly displays the total memory usage (including RAM disk), but it is bigger than the sum of memory usage on the Processes tab. So a major contributor is hidden and can not be identified.
Expected behavior: The all contributions to total memory usage can be identified.
Suggestions:
- list currently invisible memory contributors (like RAM disk) in the table on the Processes tab
- or add it with a tinted color to the circle diagram on the Ressources tab
- or extend the circle diagram on the Ressources tab to explore individual contributors to memory (processes, RAM disks etc.) using a ring chart (like in Baobab)
Version: 3.18.x