VZAM Memory Use Issue in ver 7.6.3.1

[VL600_Boston]

Hello users of 4G usb modems  (and admins),

After I installed my Access Manager software, I noticed my memory meter increasing quite quickly over the last 24 hours.  After checking the task manager I saw that the VZAM process was using about 1GB of memory.  I exited the application and restarted it.   At startup it used about 30 MB -  but then I saw the amount of private memory increasing steadily - I've been running for about 3 hours now and the task manager reports 380 MB in the private working set.  Wow!   This must be a bug of some sort.   I am using Windows 7 Pro (64-bit) and the LG VL600 usb modem.   4G works great in my area.  Note:  This memory use is not related to my data usage which is quite low. 

Thanks,   Dave

[Jim_Kirk]

Dave,

     I am using VZAM 7.6.3.1 [2642C] and the latest firmware, via the software update tool, in the VL600.  Here's a VZAM screenshot.

http://www.fareinc.com/VL600/VZAM_1.png

    I've had the VL600 since it first came out and I live about 1/2 mile from the Verizonwireless store at 2501 N Federal Hwy; Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305.

    I bought the VL600 as backup to my Comcast HSI [I have Extreme 105, 105DN/10UP] because when I need to transfer information to my website [I am a Mech. Eng. who does patent case consulting] if Comcast is not working I needed an alternative ready and waiting to go in my office.  So that got me to the VL600 which is attached to my laptop in a 2nd floor office in my home (located in zip 33305).  The laptop is a Sony Z13 with 8G of Ram and I'm running Win 7 Ultimate 64bit.

    I use the USB extension cable and put the VL600 somewhat away from my Sony and I can get VZAM to show the 4G signal strength [RSSI] at -62 db which is 3 signal bars and an excellent signal.

   To test for you I started VZAM with the VL600 attached [but not yet connected to Verizon].  Task Manager says 23.4K RAM for VZAM.  Then I connected to Verizon and VZAM shows 26.6K.  Did a speedtest using speakeasy.net 12DN/6UP and VZAM shows 29.0K RAM.  Let the Sony site idle about 5 minutes with the browser open, still connected to Verizon, VZAM 31.6K. So, here's some data for VZAM RAM use as seen in Task Manager.

7 minutes     34.1K Ram

10 minutes   37.0K Ram [ran speedtest 17/12]

15 minutes   41.7K Ram [ran speedtest  16/12]

Looks like modest memory increase for VZAM.

You are getting 1G of RAM use in Task Managere for VZAM right after you start it up?  Very high compared to what I see I get.

-Jim

[VL600_Boston]

Jim,

Thanks fo all the info.   I do see one difference vs your screenshot - My hardware version is 1.1 vs your 1.0. 

 I decided to run VZAM overnight  on another PC, an older notebook running windows XP professional (32-bit).   Also,  very similar results are seen the XP task manager -   the VZAccess... process starts up at around 20,000 KB(aka  20 MB).  After running overnight the process the windows task manager shows 259,xxx KB (or about 260 MB) .   I notice you are reporting KB,  not thousands of KB,  - which I think should be MB - most user processes take at least several hundred K to several thousand K (several Megs).  Kernel processes are not listed in the Windows Task Manager.

Since your machine has several GB of ram, and windows  uses  a hard disk based swap file (aka virtual memory), most users may not notice any issues unless they run the Verizon software for serveral days without exiting.  Basically with Windows managed swap file (not a fixed size one), most users may not notice any difference in performance - at least for many days of operation.  

Keep reporting.    Thanks.

Dave

Note:   At software startup the process uses around 30,000 KB ,  (30 MB) similar to your report if I interpret your K as M.

[Jim_Kirk]

Dave,

    Jeez, the 13" Sony Z screen is so small and my eyes are so bad I mistook the comma for a decimal point in task manager . .  It's a good thing I don't move large sums of money around using the Z or I'd either be very rich, very poor, or in jail.

    I just started up VZAM now and looked carefully at the process in task manager, 23,744 K. 

    What do you make of my Hardware Version being 1.0 and yours being 1.1?   I purchased the VL600 on 2/4/2011, when did you get yours?

    Are you in the Cambridge, MA area?  Just curious. 

    What are you getting for signal strength in VZAM?

-Jim

[VL600_Boston]

Jim,

Thanks for the reply.  Yeah,  I need computer specs to see my screen.     Re: hardware version,  I got my VL600 last week.  Before that,  I had a 3G unit that used a old style PC card slot in my old notebook.  It worked fine as well although I never noticed the memory usage issue (it may have been there).   Re 4G coverage,  I am now in NYC and getting some strong signals -   -44 dBm (4G RSSI) -  and  SINR  of 19 dB (which is huge).   I do hang out in Cambridge - the 4G signal is a bit weaker there - so the max bit rate is slightly less (12 Mbps).   Between Boston and New York, of course,  it falls back to 3G or even less.   Verizon's 4G radio frequency is around 700 MHz which has better urban transmission characteristics than the higher cell frequencies around 1,900 MHz..  

--dave

[willzzz99]

I bet you the problem is the 64-bit OS. They probably cheaped out and compiled and optimized for 32-bit only and added 64-bit as a last minute thing to check off in development. I don't know much about Windows 64-bit but can you try running the app in 32-bit mode? 

BTW you have ran the app in a regular 32-bit machine (XP or higher) with the latest VZAccess right because it will update your SIM card settings + firmware on the device which should make it a bit faster and more stable too. 

[Jim_Kirk]

Willzzz,

     Are you saying that my firmware is not the most current?

http://www.fareinc.com/VL600/VZAM_1.png

     What is the most current firmware because I've updated it once already with the Sofware update tool in W7 x64 and when I called Verizon Tech support they said I was current in firmware.

-Jim

[Jim_Kirk]

When I updated my VL600 I used a software update tool which may be hard to find on the Verizon site.  So, here is the link to the pdf instructions with information as to where to download the tool.

http://support.vzw.com/pdf/system_update/vl600_instructions.pdf

I've rerun the tool several times after my initial upgrade and when you do this it gives the message that the firmware in the device is more current than the update and doesn't let you proceed [doesn't say "the same" says "more current"].  So, can't hurt to be sure your device is up to at least this firmware.  You could also check your VZAM againist the screenshot I posted earlier in this thread.

Now, for future updates Verizon support tells me that a pop up will occur in VZAM telling me new firmware is available for the device.  Win W7 x64 I wonder if anyone ever saw this pop up or, an even broader question, has anyone ever seen a pop up message like this at all?

-Jim

[Jim_Kirk]

Dave,

    That's a very impressive signal strength at -44 db.  I don't even get that next to my wireless Netgear router at home.

     Looks like from your DN speed [is that in NYC?] the Verizon 4G network is more used in the NorthEast than it is here in South Florida because my DN speed [at -62 db signal strength] give me somewhat better speed.  Compared to 3G its like, well there is really no comparison is there

-Jim

[VL600_Boston]

Latest results:   I tried it two other ways per suggestions -  first,  I loaded the software on a notebook running windows XP (SP3),  and second I tried running the app in "compatibility mode"  on my windows 7 (64-bit) machine.  I tried several modes (including XP SP2 and SP3).  The results were the same.  The task manager shows the VZAM process steadily increasing it's memory use.  It's gains about 100 MB per hour.   Now that I know what I looking for, it's pretty easy to notice.  After launching and connecting, open the windows task manager and click on the "processes" tab.  Find the VZAM process and watch it's memory use.  If you don't see any  "memory" column, go to View-Columns and select it.  The columns are sortable up and down so it's easy to track it.   If you notice the memory count increasing every minute, then that's it.  Most processes are pretty stable in their memory use unless they are actively allocating memory such as for web pages,  spreadsheets, databases, etc.  

I believe the issue is related to the "pretty" statistics tab which shows a running graph of data rate.  If memory is not properly managed for whatever array is used (allocated but not deallocated), then the program may have a "memory leak".   Note:  The PC shows few symptoms since this unused memory is written to the paging file (until it gets huge).

[VL600_Boston]

Something interesting -  I am now on a train and only getting 3G service.    The large memory increase is not there.  In fact, everytime  3g gets dropped down to 1x - memory use actually drops.  So it bounces around between 5 and 15 MB.    I'll see if Boston is any different than Manhattan.  

[willzzz99]

I don't see 15MB of memory to be a big problem in today's 2GB+ of memory on notebooks...

[VL600_Boston]

Hello,    I am back in Boston after my train trip from NYC.    Interesting stuff to report.    As I posted from the train,  I did not see the problem in 3G areas between NYC and Boston.   The memory use was pretty stable and did not exceed about 30 MB (which is OK as mentioned).   

Now I'm back in a 4G area in Boston.   I expected the issue to be there -   but it's not!!  Wow.  After running for over an hour,  memory use is stable and changes between  5 and 20 MB, typically about 12 MB.    So,  what can be concluded?   It's Manhattan related.    The main difference I saw was the signal level in my area was huge:   -44 dBm (> 5-bars)  vs.   -64dBm (4-bars)  where I am now.    With the largest signal,  the  4G modem does switch to very high data rates (over 20 Mbps)  and perhaps there is some buffer allocation issue.   So my previous thought that it might be graphics related likely wrong.  It more likely to be a real-time thing between the network, the  driver, and  the VZAM client software.    Mystery understood better - not solve-ed  (a la Clouseau).   

[Jim_Kirk]

Dave,

     Must be a problem here in Fort Lauderdale also don't you think?

     I'm still very impressed with your signal levels-very nice.

-Jim

[VL600_Boston]

Jim,

I would hav expected similar behavior in all 4G locations - but it seems there are configuration variations in Verizon's 4G network.  This could be due to variation in network hardware (different vendors, models)  in different markets.   I have some new data to add to the mystery.  If I leave the system idle for several hours, memory use does creep up.  Unlike Manhattan,  as soon as I go active - e.g. using the web browser, the memory use drops to a lower level ~ 10 MB.    In Manhattan,  browsing the web did not cause a reduction in memory use - also the amount of memory reported used by the task mgr was much greater (1GB over 24 hours).

Another possibility is the use of a USB interface in these modems.  From the user view,  USB hardware installs smoothly (plug 'n pray).  But it is, in fact,  very complex "under the hood",  Despite it's ubiquity, configuring a USB driver correctly is beyond many software developers and they look for pre-packaged solutions (which may not work that well). 

--dave    

[Jim_Kirk]

Dave,

     How did you find the handoff from a 4G area to a 3G area?  Was it transparent to you except for the slower speeds and could you tell it occurred if you were not browsing the internet with the information in VZAM?

     When you came back into a 4G area was the switch also transparent to you?  No unplug and replug the modem I'm hoping.

-Jim

[VL600_Boston]

Jim,

Unfortunately,  the handoff from  3G to 4G and back is not that smooth (based on one trip). I don't know if it's hardware, firmware or software.   Since 4G runs on a separate band at 700 MHz,  and the 3G system does not seem to let the user know it's available,  the system periodically searches for the 700 MHz signal and then takes time to "lock up" on it.   In 3G, and 4G, switching speeds based on signal strength is much faster and smoother.   My sense is that the modem is not capable of processing both frequency bands simultaneously and staying in better contact with the cellular network.     If you are unlucky enough to move around at the edge of a 3g/4g area, you may have problems.   In any case,  a very weak 4G signal is not likely to be much better than a strong 3G.  Where the exact "edge of the cliff" is, depends on a lot of local conditions.

--dave

P. S.   The train I was on reaches speeds of 150 mph.  that can present problems.  

[VL600_Boston]

Hi y'all,     As I mentioned in the  UML290 thread,  I wanted to see if  the VZAM version 7.6.3.4 version was any better regarding memory use behavior.   The answer is  "no".      Reported memory use does creep up when in idle for several hours.  But,  like the older version,  at least here in Boston,   after some data transfer,  memory use suddenly drops to about 10 MB.  

It would be useful if Verizon added a  readme.txt  to show version history and list the bug fixes and other changes to VZAM.   It looks like Verizon is using  Smith Micro software  based on the copyright and other info in the About dialog.     Smith Micro Software, Inc.  is based in California.    The have a few platforms for mobile hardware and software management, such as

http://www.smithmicro.com/products/quicklink-mobile.aspx

It's also possible that Smith Micro is doing specific software development for Verizon as well  (they do contract work as well). 

http://www.smithmicro.com/about/news/smith-micro-software-adds-to-board-of-directors-former-verizon-...

Bon voyage, 

Dave

[Jim_Kirk]

Dave,

Looks like I will just stick with my current VZAM version [7.6.3.1] and we'll see where we go in the future.

-Jim