JDK-6197676 : JVM should release a memory pages back to OS by default when reasonable
  • Type: Enhancement
  • Component: hotspot
  • Sub-Component: gc
  • Affected Version: 5.0
  • Priority: P4
  • Status: Closed
  • Resolution: Fixed
  • OS: windows_xp
  • CPU: x86
  • Submitted: 2004-11-19
  • Updated: 2014-09-11
  • Resolved: 2014-09-11
Related Reports
Relates :  
JDK-8028391 - Make the Min/MaxHeapFreeRatio flags manageable
Description
A DESCRIPTION OF THE REQUEST :

JVM
---
* Release memory pages back to OS by default when free memory crosses a threshold.


JUSTIFICATION :
This is one of many RFEs produced from a community discussion at
http://forums.java.net/jive/thread.jspa?threadID=143.  Further
justification could typically be found at the given link.

Given liberal memory limitations, it should be reasonable to have the JVM release memory back to the OS.

I understand that there are settings to already do this but that it does not always occur dependant on the type of GC.  These settings should be explicitly stated.
Comments
There are the now manageable from outside flags Min/MaxHeapFreeRatio that can be used to control the amount of space freed during runtime. The referenced link to the java forum is broken, so there is no further information what "when reasonable" is.
11-09-2014