Java Memory Overview

1. Java Heap Size

Place to store objects created by your Java application

-Xms<size> - Set initial Java heap size
-Xmx<size> - Set maximum Java heap size
$ java -Xms512m -Xmx1024m JavaApp

related exception: java.lang.OutOfMemoryError: Java heap space.

2. Perm Gen Size

Place to store your loaded class definition and metadata.

-XX:PermSize<size> - Set initial PermGen Size.
-XX:MaxPermSize<size> - Set the maximum PermGen Size.
$ java -XX:PermSize=64m -XX:MaxPermSize=128m JavaApp

related exception: Java.Lang.OutOfMemoryError: PermGen.

3. Java Stack Size

Size of a Java thread. If a project has a lot of threads processing, try reduce this stack size to avoid running out of memory.

$ java -Xss512k JavaApp

Check Your Java Heap Memory Size

$ java -XX:+PrintFlagsFinal -version | grep -iE 'heapsize|permsize|threadstacksize' 
    uintx AdaptivePermSizeWeight                    = 20              {product}           
     intx CompilerThreadStackSize                   = 0               {pd product}        
    uintx ErgoHeapSizeLimit                         = 0               {product}           
    uintx HeapSizePerGCThread                       = 87241520        {product}           
    uintx InitialHeapSize                          := 261254528       {product}           
    uintx LargePageHeapSizeThreshold                = 134217728       {product}           
    uintx MaxHeapSize                              := 4181721088      {product}           
    uintx MaxPermSize                               = 174063616       {pd product}        
    uintx PermSize                                  = 21757952        {pd product}        
     intx ThreadStackSize                           = 1024            {pd product}        
     intx VMThreadStackSize                         = 1024            {pd product}        
java version "1.7.0_55"
OpenJDK Runtime Environment (IcedTea 2.4.7) (7u55-2.4.7-1ubuntu1)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 24.51-b03, mixed mode)