Tag Name cache_mem
Usage cache_mem bytes

Description
‘cache_mem’ specifies the ideal amount of memory to be used for :

  • In-Transit objects
  • Hot Objects
  • Negative-Cached objects

Data for these objects are stored in 4 KB blocks. This parameter specifies the ideal upper limit on the total size of 4 KB blocks allocated. In-transit objects have priority over the others. When additional space is needed for incoming data, negative-cached and hot objects will be released. In other words, the negative-cached and hot objects will fill up any unused space not needed for in-transit objects. If circumstances require, this limit will be exceeded. Specifically, if your incoming request rate requires more than ‘cache_mem’ of memory to hold in-transit objects, Squid will exceed this limit to satisfy the new requests. When the load decreases, blocks will be freed until the high-water mark is reached. Thereafter, blocks will be used to store hot objects.

Default cache_mem 8 MB

Example
cache_mem 1 GB

Caution
This parameter does not specify the maximum process size. It places a limit on one aspect of squid’s memory usage. Squid uses memory for other things as well. Process will probably become twice or three times bigger than the value put here.