How To Fix VIRT055 - Maximum swap size

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: VIRT - Virtualization Monitoring

• Message number: 055

• Message text: Maximum swap size

What causes this issue?

Maximum swap size (by filesystem swap: freespace included)

System Response

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

How to fix this error?

Procedure for System Administrators

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message VIRT055 - Maximum swap size ?

  The SAP error message VIRT055, which indicates "Maximum swap size exceeded," typically occurs when the system has reached the limit of virtual memory that can be allocated for a particular process or the entire system. This can happen in environments where the swap space (virtual memory) is limited or when the application is consuming more memory than is available.
  Causes:
  
  Insufficient Swap Space: The system's swap space may be configured too low to handle the memory requirements of the running processes.
  Memory Leaks: An application or process may have a memory leak, causing it to consume more memory over time.
  High Memory Usage: The overall memory usage of the system may be too high due to multiple applications or processes running simultaneously.
  Configuration Issues: The SAP system or the underlying operating system may not be configured optimally for memory management.
  
  Solutions:
  
  
  Increase Swap Space:
  
  Check the current swap space configuration using commands like swapon -s or free -m on Linux systems.
  If the swap space is low, consider increasing it by adding more swap files or partitions.
  
  
  
  Optimize Memory Usage:
  
  Review the running processes and identify any that are consuming excessive memory.
  Optimize the configuration of the SAP system to reduce memory consumption, such as adjusting buffer sizes or limiting the number of parallel processes.
  
  
  
  Monitor and Manage Memory:
  
  Use monitoring tools to keep track of memory usage and identify trends that may lead to high memory consumption.
  Implement regular maintenance tasks to clear unnecessary data from memory.
  
  
  
  Check for Memory Leaks:
  
  Investigate the application code for potential memory leaks, especially if the issue is recurring.
  Use profiling tools to analyze memory usage and identify problematic areas in the code.
  
  
  
  System Configuration:
  
  Ensure that the operating system and SAP system are configured correctly for optimal memory management.
  Review system parameters related to memory allocation and adjust them as necessary.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes related to VIRT055 for specific guidance and patches that may address known issues.
  Operating System Documentation: Refer to the documentation for your operating system for best practices on managing swap space and memory.
  SAP Community: Engage with the SAP Community forums for insights from other users who may have encountered similar issues.
  
  By addressing the underlying causes and implementing the suggested solutions, you should be able to resolve the VIRT055 error and improve the overall memory management of your SAP system.