max memory setting and /3GB switch

A server with 8 GB RAM and MS SQL only server with one instance, /PAE and AWE
set.
1) Shoud Max Server Memory be set to the full 8 GB or a less amount like 6
GB to account for the OS?
2) Is it necessary to set /3GB switch or does /PAE make it irrelevant?
Thanks.
YOu need PAE to let the OS see more than 4GB. The /3GB is optional but I
would recommend it in most cases with only 8GB of ram. Absolutely set the
max memory setting to less than 8GB. Try 7.0 and see how that works. Once
you turn on AWE the memory is fixed and you need to leave room for the OS
and any other applications or processes.
Andrew J. Kelly SQL MVP
"sfhank" <sfhank@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E88EF65B-B3A4-4BF4-BC6C-C59A3590049F@.microsoft.com...
>A server with 8 GB RAM and MS SQL only server with one instance, /PAE and
>AWE
> set.
>
> 1) Shoud Max Server Memory be set to the full 8 GB or a less amount like 6
> GB to account for the OS?
> 2) Is it necessary to set /3GB switch or does /PAE make it irrelevant?
> Thanks.