How To Fix RT172 - Utilized area of fixed device cache (percentage)

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: RT - Monitoring infrastructure MSG and alert texts

• Message number: 172

• Message text: Utilized area of fixed device cache (percentage)

This area describes for which output devices there are requests in the
host spool system that have not yet been reported as completed. The
cache must therefore contain at least as many entries as the maximum
number of devices that can be used concurrently.
INCLUDE BC_SPOOL_MOREINFO OBJECT DOKU ID TX LANGUAGE EN

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message RT172 - Utilized area of fixed device cache (percentage) ?

  The SAP error message RT172 indicates that the utilized area of the fixed device cache has reached a certain percentage threshold. This typically relates to performance issues in the SAP system, particularly in the context of database operations and memory management.
  Cause:
  
  High Cache Utilization: The fixed device cache is used to store frequently accessed data. If the cache is nearly full, it can lead to performance degradation as the system struggles to manage data retrieval and storage.
  Increased Workload: A sudden increase in transactions or data processing can lead to higher cache usage.
  Inefficient Queries: Poorly optimized queries can lead to excessive data being loaded into the cache.
  Configuration Issues: Incorrect configuration settings for the cache size or related parameters can lead to inefficient cache usage.
  
  Solution:
  
  Monitor Cache Usage: Use transaction codes like ST02 (Tune Summary) to monitor the cache usage and identify the current utilization percentage.
  Increase Cache Size: If the cache is consistently full, consider increasing the size of the fixed device cache. This can be done through the database configuration settings.
  Optimize Queries: Review and optimize SQL queries to ensure they are efficient and do not unnecessarily load large amounts of data into the cache.
  Regular Maintenance: Implement regular database maintenance tasks, such as updating statistics and reorganizing indexes, to improve performance and reduce cache usage.
  Adjust Configuration Parameters: Review and adjust relevant configuration parameters in the SAP system and database to ensure optimal performance.
  Check for Updates: Ensure that your SAP system and database are up to date with the latest patches and updates, as these can include performance improvements.
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: Use ST02 for monitoring buffer and cache statistics, and ST04 for database performance analysis.
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes related to RT172 for specific recommendations and fixes provided by SAP.
  Performance Tuning: Consider engaging in performance tuning sessions to analyze and improve overall system performance.
  Documentation: Refer to SAP documentation for detailed guidelines on cache management and performance optimization.
  
  By addressing the underlying causes and implementing the suggested solutions, you can mitigate the impact of the RT172 error and improve the performance of your SAP system.