WWHeap Memory Settings: InTouch® Application Considerations and Configuration Recommendations

Tech Note 768

WWHeap Memory Settings: InTouch® Application Considerations and Configuration
Recommendations

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Topic#: 002547
Created: April 2011

Introduction
This Tech Note outlines how to modify the WWHeap memory settings in the registry. It also includes the reasons why and what
application scenarios these adjustments are recommended for.

Application Versions
InTouch 10.x

Note: Version 10.1 SP3 P1 and higher will automatically adjust the WWHeap Memory Range to a default maximum of 1.5 GB on a 32-
bit system and a default maximum of 2 GB, if the 3GB switch is used on a 32-bit version of Windows (refer to TN 732 at the end of
this Tech Note), and to 2 GB on a 64-bit version of Windows.

WWHeap Explained
WWHeap is a range of memory allocated by the InTouch installation which is used to allocated shared memory by WindowMaker and
WindowViewer. Certain components of InTouch require memory resources during runtime. The WWHeap allocation is meant to ensure
enough memory is available for the application to run properly.

What InTouch Components Use the WWHeap?

The following specific components within an InTouch application consume WWHeap memory resources.

InTouch Windows utilize WWHeap memory and certain components on a window will use more memory such as large bitmaps,
detailed graphic components and wizards. The more windows used in an application, the more WWHeap necessary to handle them.

Note: If Always Load Windows from Disk is checked windows are then loaded from disk and use only the required amount of
WWHeap memory space while the window is displayed. Once the window is closed, the WWHeap releases the memory that had been
allocated for the window.

The Tagname Database utilizes WWHeap memory. The more tags in an application, the more WWHeap memory is necessary to
handle them.

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WWHeap Memory Settings: InTouch® Application Considerations and Configuration Recommendations
Remote Tag References (RTR) also utilizes WWHeap memory. The more RTRs in an application, the more WWHeap necessary to
handle them.

Other InTouch components that utilize the WWHeap memory are WindowMaker, HD and SPC Pro.

WWHeap Configuration Options

You can configure the range of the Wonderware Memory Manager (wwHeap) in 1 MB increments up to 1024 MB for versions 9.5
P3 and up, then up to 2047 MB for version 10.1 SP2 P1 or higher. If you set the range to less than 32 MB, a warning is written to
the Log Viewer. Any value greater than 2047 MB is set to 2047 MB. The WWHeap has a memory range default of 256 MB. This
range is configured by a registry entry. You cannot change the range until wwHeap is completely reset, which means that all
programs using wwHeap have been stopped.

You can choose whether wwHeap should start its search for free memory maps at the zero index or the most recently used index.
This allows programs with smaller memory requirements to 'conserve' memory addresses, while those with larger memory
requirements can be optimized to find available memory more quickly. The default behavior is to start the search at the zero index
each time, as this is the original wwHeap behavior. You configure the setting using the registry. You cannot change the value until
wwHeap is completely reset, which means that all programs using wwHeap have been stopped.

When wwHeap is first started, it can read an optional .INI text file containing a list of reserved memory addresses into which it
should never allocate memory. This helps to avoid heap share allocation errors with third-party modules that are not necessarily
loaded at system startup. The .INI file's path is read from the registry.

Note: The wwHeap configuration information is always written to the Log Viewer at least once when wwHeap is first accessed by any
program. This provides a record of the wwHeap configuration for diagnostic purposes.

WWHEAP WWHEAP Base Address 0x3FFE0000 End Address 0xBFFE0000 and WWHEAP WWHEAP Memory Range 2048 MB (32768 Maps)
Conserve Memory 1

Default WWHeap Settings

Memory range: 256 MB

Starting address: 0x21000000

Memory Conservation: Enable - Search for free memory starting at the beginning of the memory range

Memory reservation .ini file: DO NOT MODIFY the process .ini file (we recommend no changes be made to the default setting)

Modifying WWHeap Settings

This section lists the configurable WWHeap settings and modification details.

Memory Range
1. Create a DWORD registry entry with the value MemoryRange under the following key:

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WWHeap Memory Settings: InTouch® Application Considerations and Configuration Recommendations
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wonderware\wwHeap

2. Set it to the number of megabytes (MB), from 1 to 2048 (decimal)

Starting Address
1. Create a DWORD registry entry with the value BaseOffset under the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wonderware\wwHeap

2. Set it to the desired memory base offset. The start and end memory addresses are written to the Log Viewer.

Memory Conservation
1. To enable the efficient free-memory search algorithm, create a DWORD registry entry with the value ConserveMemory under the
following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wonderware\wwHeap

2. Set the value to:

0 - efficient free-memory search (to cycle through the list)

1 - conserve memory (always start search at beginning of list)

Note: As always, take extra care and create a backup prior to making adjustments to the Windows Registry.

Additional Resources
Tech Note 732 Wonderware Memory Manager Configuration Best Practices

CRs and Versions Affecting WWHeap Memory

CR L00052211: v9.5 P3 WWHeap settings were made adjustable via the registry: MemoryRange to 1024 MB and BaseOffset
(Starting address) was increased. Note that as of version 10.1 SP2 P1 the MemoryRange can be increased to 2047 MB
Version 9.0 and lower used WwHeap memory for the Alarm Subsystem. However, as of version 9.5 (and higher) the Alarm
Subsystem does not use the WWHeap.
A. Rantos

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