How To Fix VIRT191 - Physical Memory Consumed

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: VIRT - Virtualization Monitoring

• Message number: 191

• Message text: Physical Memory Consumed

What causes this issue?

This is the total amount of consumed memory on the host.
On VMware, this includes memory used by the host to support the physical
address space of all the virtual machines on the host.

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 VIRT191 - Physical Memory Consumed ?

  The SAP error message VIRT191, which indicates "Physical Memory Consumed," typically relates to issues with memory allocation and usage within the SAP system. This error can occur when the SAP application server is consuming a significant amount of physical memory, which may lead to performance degradation or system instability.
  Causes:
  
  High Workload: A sudden increase in user activity or background jobs can lead to high memory consumption.
  Memory Leaks: Certain transactions or programs may not release memory properly, leading to gradual memory consumption over time.
  Configuration Issues: Incorrect settings in the SAP memory management parameters can lead to inefficient memory usage.
  Insufficient Hardware Resources: The physical server may not have enough RAM to handle the workload, especially if the system has grown over time.
  Inefficient ABAP Code: Poorly optimized ABAP programs can consume excessive memory.
  
  Solutions:
  
  Monitor Memory Usage: Use transaction codes like ST02 (Tune Summary) and ST03 (Workload Analysis) to monitor memory usage and identify bottlenecks.
  Adjust Memory Parameters: Review and adjust SAP memory parameters (e.g., abap/heap_area_dia, abap/heap_area_nondia, enque/table_size) in the instance profile to optimize memory allocation.
  Analyze and Optimize ABAP Code: Review custom ABAP programs for efficiency and optimize them to reduce memory consumption.
  Increase Physical Memory: If the server is consistently running out of memory, consider upgrading the physical RAM on the server.
  Restart the Application Server: In some cases, a restart of the application server can temporarily alleviate memory issues, but this is not a long-term solution.
  Check for Memory Leaks: Use tools like the SAP Memory Inspector to identify and fix memory leaks in the system.
  Limit Background Jobs: If there are too many background jobs running simultaneously, consider staggering them to reduce peak memory usage.
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check SAP Notes related to memory management and performance tuning for specific guidance and updates.
  SAP Community: Engage with the SAP Community forums for insights and shared experiences from other users facing similar issues.
  System Monitoring Tools: Utilize SAP Solution Manager or other monitoring tools to keep track of system performance and memory usage trends over time.
  
  By addressing the underlying causes and implementing the suggested solutions, you can mitigate the impact of the VIRT191 error and improve the overall performance of your SAP system.