OpenFOAM is just using 2GB RAM?

kornickel · October 26, 2013, 04:45

Hi everyone,

everytime I'm running a solver in OpenFOAM (simpleFoam, rhoSimpleFoam) it's just using 2GB of my 8GB memory, no matter if I'm running the case in parallel or not. Does anybody know why?
Doesn't OpenFOAM need more memory at all or is there a limitation in my system?

Best regards,

Frank Ubber

wyldckat · October 26, 2013, 05:12

Greetings Frank,

That's perfectly normal if you are using a 32bit architecture of a Linux Distribution and/or using a 32bit build of OpenFOAM. To confirm each one, run:

Code:

uname -m
echo $WM_OPTIONS

If 32bit, it should give you:
Code:
```
i686
linuxGccDPOpt
```
If 64bit:
Code:
```
x86_64
linux64GccDPOpt
```

As for when running in parallel: each parallel application should be able to use 2GB, so in theory you could run 4 applications in parallel, where each one would occupy up to 2GB or RAM.

Best regards,
Bruno

Kaskade · October 29, 2013, 04:02

How many meshes have you tried? Apart from some overhead running in parallel doesn't need more RAM. Maybe your mesh is just that small/coarse.

kornickel · October 29, 2013, 13:46

Thanks for your answers! I think wyldckat is right, I tried it with several meshes and I was just wondering. Now I have a case including MRF.

I think it doesn't work because OpenFOAM still can't run MRF cases in parallel, is that right? At least when I run my case in parallel it still uses just 2GB and solving takes much more time than just running in on one server.

Kaskade · October 29, 2013, 14:11

OpenFOAM can use MRF in parallel. But don't forget to add the AMIs to the nonRotatingPatches, otherwise it won't converge.

64bit Linux is faster than 32 bit Linux by the way. Just in case you aren't using it.

kornickel · October 31, 2013, 11:45

Thanks, cascade! I don't have AMIs, just normal cyclic patches. Is that what you mean? And it actually does run in parallel, it's just about half as fast as when I run it on one core.
And I also have a 64bit Linux system running so I can't see why it's so slow!?

Kaskade · October 31, 2013, 12:09

I don't know the name of the setting of the back of my head, but you need to mention the cyclic patches in the decomposeParDict. Otherwise the patches are separated and the amount of communication increases.

I usually set up AMIs for my MRF cases, so I have the option to run transient later on.

Also: run "renumberMesh" before and "mpirun -np *numberofcores* renumberMesh -parallel" after decomposing. Might help, doesn't have to.

How many cores do you have? Are you running Linux native or in a vm?

If your system is 64bit, OpenFOAM is 64bit as well. Did you compile it or install the binaries?

kornickel · October 31, 2013, 12:18

Wow! That's a lot of useful information, thanks! I never ran a parallel simulation when I used cyclic patches. I did a quick research and found the option "preservePatches (cyclic_left cyclic_right);" in the decomposeParDict. Is that the way I mention these cyclic patches?

My machine has 8 cores (but I'm just going to use 4 of them), I am running OpenFOAM on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS native and I installed OpenFOAM via apt-get install.

Kaskade · October 31, 2013, 12:24

Yes, "preservePatches" is what I meant.

What command do you use to run the simulation? Is the correct number of cores being used?

October 26, 2013, 04:45	OpenFOAM is just using 2GB RAM?	#1
kornickel Member Frank Ubber Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 32 Rep Power: 12	Hi everyone, everytime I'm running a solver in OpenFOAM (simpleFoam, rhoSimpleFoam) it's just using 2GB of my 8GB memory, no matter if I'm running the case in parallel or not. Does anybody know why? Doesn't OpenFOAM need more memory at all or is there a limitation in my system? Best regards, Frank Ubber

October 26, 2013, 05:12		#2
wyldckat Retired Super Moderator Bruno Santos Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lisbon, Portugal Posts: 10,975 Blog Entries: 45 Rep Power: 128	Greetings Frank, That's perfectly normal if you are using a 32bit architecture of a Linux Distribution and/or using a 32bit build of OpenFOAM. To confirm each one, run: Code: uname -m echo $WM_OPTIONS If 32bit, it should give you: Code: i686 linuxGccDPOpt If 64bit: Code: x86_64 linux64GccDPOpt As for when running in parallel: each parallel application should be able to use 2GB, so in theory you could run 4 applications in parallel, where each one would occupy up to 2GB or RAM. Best regards, Bruno __________________ OpenFOAM: FAQ \| Getting started Forum: How to get help, to post code/output and forum guide Read this before sending me PM

October 29, 2013, 14:11		#5
Kaskade Senior Member Onno Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 120 Rep Power: 15	OpenFOAM can use MRF in parallel. But don't forget to add the AMIs to the nonRotatingPatches, otherwise it won't converge. 64bit Linux is faster than 32 bit Linux by the way. Just in case you aren't using it. wyldckat and kornickel like this.

October 31, 2013, 12:09		#7
Kaskade Senior Member Onno Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 120 Rep Power: 15	I don't know the name of the setting of the back of my head, but you need to mention the cyclic patches in the decomposeParDict. Otherwise the patches are separated and the amount of communication increases. I usually set up AMIs for my MRF cases, so I have the option to run transient later on. Also: run "renumberMesh" before and "mpirun -np numberofcores renumberMesh -parallel" after decomposing. Might help, doesn't have to. How many cores do you have? Are you running Linux native or in a vm? If your system is 64bit, OpenFOAM is 64bit as well. Did you compile it or install the binaries? kornickel likes this.

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October 29, 2013, 04:02		#3
Kaskade Senior Member Onno Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 120 Rep Power: 15	How many meshes have you tried? Apart from some overhead running in parallel doesn't need more RAM. Maybe your mesh is just that small/coarse.

October 29, 2013, 13:46		#4
kornickel Member Frank Ubber Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 32 Rep Power: 12	Thanks for your answers! I think wyldckat is right, I tried it with several meshes and I was just wondering. Now I have a case including MRF. I think it doesn't work because OpenFOAM still can't run MRF cases in parallel, is that right? At least when I run my case in parallel it still uses just 2GB and solving takes much more time than just running in on one server.

October 31, 2013, 11:45		#6
kornickel Member Frank Ubber Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 32 Rep Power: 12	Thanks, cascade! I don't have AMIs, just normal cyclic patches. Is that what you mean? And it actually does run in parallel, it's just about half as fast as when I run it on one core. And I also have a 64bit Linux system running so I can't see why it's so slow!?

October 31, 2013, 12:18		#8
kornickel Member Frank Ubber Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 32 Rep Power: 12	Wow! That's a lot of useful information, thanks! I never ran a parallel simulation when I used cyclic patches. I did a quick research and found the option "preservePatches (cyclic_left cyclic_right);" in the decomposeParDict. Is that the way I mention these cyclic patches? My machine has 8 cores (but I'm just going to use 4 of them), I am running OpenFOAM on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS native and I installed OpenFOAM via apt-get install.

October 31, 2013, 12:24		#9
Kaskade Senior Member Onno Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 120 Rep Power: 15	Yes, "preservePatches" is what I meant. What command do you use to run the simulation? Is the correct number of cores being used?