How To Fix VIRT417 - Additional Memory Available

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: VIRT - Virtualization Monitoring

• Message number: 417

• Message text: Additional Memory Available

What causes this issue?

This is the amount of physical memory that is available to this virtual
system, but is not yet in use.
This value is: the amount of physical memory that could potentially be
added to the virtual system without reconfiguration. This value is
naturally limited by the free memory available on the virtualization
host or resource pool and also limited by the upper limit configured for
the virtual system.

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 VIRT417 - Additional Memory Available ?

  The SAP error message VIRT417 indicates that the system has detected that additional memory is available for use, but it is not being utilized effectively. This message typically arises in the context of SAP systems running on virtualized environments or when there are memory allocation issues.
  Cause:
  
  Memory Configuration: The SAP system may not be configured to utilize all the available memory. This can happen if the instance profile settings do not reflect the total memory available on the server.
  Operating System Limits: The operating system may have limits set on the amount of memory that can be allocated to processes, which can restrict the SAP system's ability to use available memory.
  SAP Kernel Version: An outdated SAP kernel may not be optimized for memory management, leading to inefficient memory usage.
  Virtualization Settings: In virtualized environments, the hypervisor settings may limit the memory available to the SAP instance.
  
  Solution:
  
  
  Check Instance Profile Settings:
  
  Go to the SAP instance profile (usually found in the transaction RZ10).
  Ensure that the parameters related to memory allocation (like abap/heap_area_dia, abap/heap_area_nondia, etc.) are set appropriately to utilize the available memory.
  
  
  
  Adjust Operating System Settings:
  
  Check the operating system settings for memory limits. For example, on Linux systems, you may need to adjust the ulimit settings or other kernel parameters.
  Ensure that the system is not running out of swap space, which can affect memory allocation.
  
  
  
  Update SAP Kernel:
  
  If you are running an outdated version of the SAP kernel, consider updating it to the latest version. Newer versions often come with performance improvements and better memory management.
  
  
  
  Review Virtualization Configuration:
  
  If running in a virtualized environment, check the hypervisor settings to ensure that the SAP instance has been allocated sufficient memory.
  Ensure that the virtual machine is not overcommitted in terms of memory.
  
  
  
  Monitor Memory Usage:
  
  Use transaction ST02 (Tune Summary) to monitor memory usage and identify any bottlenecks.
  Analyze memory dumps or traces if necessary to understand how memory is being utilized.
  
  
  
  Related Information:
  
  SAP Notes: Check for any relevant SAP Notes that may address specific issues related to memory management and the VIRT417 error.
  SAP Community: Engage with the SAP Community forums for insights from other users who may have encountered similar issues.
  Documentation: Review SAP documentation regarding memory management and performance tuning for your specific SAP version.
  
  By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the VIRT417 error and optimize memory usage in your SAP system.