Network Management

Poller shows incorrect memory utilization for UNIX and Linux in SolarWinds Platform

Memory gauges monitoring UNIX and Linux devices or nodes shows 100% memory utilization via the SolarWinds Web Console. When monitoring Memory Utilization for Unix/Linux devices, there may be a difference in the value depending on what Poller (job) is used. Consider monitoring your Linux environment based on a combination of common OIDs for memory statistics.

First published date

10/25/2018 10:29 AM

Last published date

7/15/2025 8:20 PM

Overview

When monitoring Memory Utilization for Unix/Linux devices, there may be a difference in the value depending on what Poller (job) is used. Consider monitoring your Linux environment based on a combination of common OIDs for memory statistics.

Product section

Network Performance Monitor

Cause

This issue is caused by the polling type selection for polling memory utilization of UNIX and Linux devices or nodes, as there are many options available to monitor the types of memory from UNIX and Linux.
In general, Linux devices show high usage of physical memory and swap memory. This is because Linux uses available memory for buffers and cache to help the system run faster. If space is needed by other programs, Linux frees up the buffers and cache to have memory for applications.

Resolution

Applies to:

  • All SolarWinds Software Versions that use Memory gauges
  • With Net-SNMP in use on UNIX and Linux Devices / Nodes

Starting in SolarWinds Platform 2025.1 and above, Total Memory Used calculation via agents was changed to remove Buffers, Cached and Slab. 

To get a realistic idea of how much memory is utilized on a Linux device, monitor your environment based on a combination of the following statistics: Physical Memory, Virtual Memory, Memory Buffers, Cached Memory Used / Physical Memory, Virtual Memory, Memory Buffers, and Cached Memory Used Total. 
 

Note: The following resolution is for a change to a single device or node only. It is not a global change for all devices or nodes.

Change the poller type to a more suitable poller for memory information of UNIX and Linux

  1. Launch pollerchecker.exe from c:\program files (x86)\Solarwinds\Orion\ (or your installation directory) on the main Orion/SolarWinds Platform server.
  2. Select the related Device / Node.
  3. Select poller type (memory in this case).
  4. Click Detect Pollers.
  5. Right-click the supported pollers and complete a Poll now.
  6. Check if any of the supported pollers produce the correct / expected results.
  7. Enable this poller by selecting the poller and clicking on Add/Replace Pollers.
  8. Click Yes in the confirmation dialog.
  9. Retest the related gauge(s) via the SolarWinds Website / Web Console, after the next scheduled poll of the related device / node.