64-bit architecture a memory hog for Apache/mod

Booger has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Dear Monks:

I am working with a couple of Apache/mod_perl applications that run on 32-bit and 64-bit platforms. The versions that run on these to platforms are identical as far as the code base goes. Both are platforms are Red Hat Enterprise (same version -- different architecture).

My question stems from my lack of understanding of 64-bit architectures in general.

I am having some difficulty understanding why the Apache processes on the 64-bit machine are some 60% larger resident memory-wise. This huge difference in memory use is causing some rather bad performance on the 64-bit platform.

Is anyone aware of anything in general that I should be aware of when moving Apache/mod_perl applications to 64-bit platforms?

Thanks in advance,

Matt

Comment on 64-bit architecture a memory hog for Apache/mod_perl?

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Re: 64-bit architecture a memory hog for Apache/mod_perl? by Elian (Parson) on Jan 12, 2006 at 14:57 UTC
This isn't much of a surprise. In general, moving an application from a 32 to a 64 bit architecture machine will mean more memory usage, and 60% sounds about right. While the memory used by strings and floating point data generally won't change in size, integers and pointers are now twice as big as they used to be, and perl makes use of a lot of integers and pointers internally. Going to a 64 bit architecture also means that the way some data structures are packed together changes and makes them a bit bigger on top of the extra memory needed for the larger pointers and integers. This is true of any language, not just perl. Do a 64-bit build of python or ruby, or recompile your C program to be fully 64-bit, and you'll see the same sort of memory usage increase. Basically assume a move to a 64 bit platform means you need twice as much memory on the system for equivalent performance. That's a bit of an over-estimate, but it should see you through OK, and memory's reasonably cheap.	[reply]
Re: 64-bit architecture a memory hog for Apache/mod_perl? by grinder (Bishop) on Jan 12, 2006 at 15:55 UTC
You might want to check out this recent thread on perl5-porters http://www.xray.mpe.mpg.de/mailing-lists/perl5-porters/2006-01/msg00058.html Executive summary: it might not be so much perl that's at fault, but other things linked in with it. • another intruder with the mooring in the heart of the Perl	[reply]