From Bugzilla Helper: User-Agent: Mozilla/4.77 [en] (X11; U; Linux 2.4.2-2smp i686) It seems that when running updatedb (as root, of course), major amounts of memory are consumed, and not freed once the database update is complete. My system has 256mb of RAM - about 205mb free on initial X login. As I run updatedb, I watch the memory slowly get eaten to about 110mb free. When updatedb is completed, it does not free all of that memory. Reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1. Login as root 2. Update the slocate database by issuing the command 'updatedb' 3. Watch memory Actual Results: Memory is eaten Expected Results: Memory should be freed once the application has completed the update. Redhat Linux 7.1 Dual Pentium-III 800mhz Processors 256mb RAM
It's being used by the kernel for cache. If you'll note the memory statistics, the increase will pretty much all be in the 'buffers' or 'cached' category.
Once it is finished then, is there a way to free up the buffers & cached sections of memory since this wouldn't be in use?
No; the kernel will clear out the cache if it needs it for other programs.