NOT working V8 node option (--max_old_space_size) to increase memory in AWS Production server

[maneshdas]

Hello,

Unexpectedly terminating Node process due to out of memory issue and tried to extend memory size by setting Node - V8 option "--max_old_space_size". It works as expected in some machines but NOT consistent across machines and different applications (NOT working in pre-prod which is in AWS). Sometimes it decreasing memory too.
Doest it depending on any other factors? Kindly advice.

Node version - 4.5

Thanks!

• Node.js Version:
• OS:
• Scope (install, code, runtime, meta, other?):
• Module (and version) (if relevant):

[bnoordhuis]

You say it doesn't work. Can you be more specific? What does and doesn't it do?

[maneshdas]

Hi,

It works in Mac OSX and increase the memory limit upto 3.97GB after setting the Node option "--max_old_space_size = 4096".
The same Node option tried in the AWS pre-prod server and it changed to 1.97GB only.
When I am trying "--max_old_space_size = 6144" (for 6GB) in Windows machine, it decreases memory limit to 1.31GB.

All the above different Node memory options I tried on the same Node application which is running on Windows, Mac OSX and AWS cloud server.

Thanks!

[bnoordhuis]

Let me guess: the machines where it doesn't work are 32 bits? Or at least the node binary is?

32 bits binaries can only address up to 2 or 3 GB, depending on the kernel configuration.

[maneshdas]

The installed Node.JS is 64 bit, checked through PM2 tool & node -p "process.arch".

[bnoordhuis]

I think this might be a resurfacing of nodejs/node#648. It's not exactly the same issue but close: it's using a 32 bits signed int to store --max_old_space_size, which doesn't work for values >= 2^32 and behaves erratically for values >= 2^31.

[gireeshpunathil]

@maneshdas - is this still outstanding?

[gireeshpunathil]

closing due to inactivity

[jpmontez]

This is occurring to me, too. The flag is being ignored. The only workaround is the explicitly set the environment variable directory.

export NODE_OPTIONS="--max-old-space-size=8192"

All subsequent Node.js commands will now work without running out of memory.