To fix SQL Server's excessive RAM usage, you can take the following steps:
Set Appropriate Memory Limits: Configure the "Min Server Memory" and "Max Server Memory" settings in SQL Server Management Studio to allocate an appropriate range of memory for SQL Server's operations. This ensures it doesn't consume all available RAM.
Review Query Performance: Identify and optimize poorly performing queries that cause excessive memory usage. Use tools like SQL Server Profiler, Query Store, or Execution Plans to analyze and optimize queries.
Update SQL Server: Ensure SQL Server is up-to-date with the latest patches and updates to benefit from performance improvements and bug fixes.
Index Optimization: Properly design and maintain indexes to enhance query performance and reduce memory usage.
Check for Memory Leaks: Monitor for memory leaks or misconfigurations in your application or stored procedures, and fix them accordingly.
Consider Resource Governor: If you have multiple databases on the server, consider using Resource Governor to allocate memory resources more effectively among different workloads.
Upgrade Hardware: If the hardware is insufficient for the workload, consider upgrading to better accommodate the memory requirements.
Review Other Applications: Check for resource-hungry applications running on the same server, and either limit their resource usage or consider moving them to another server.
Audit and Monitor: Implement monitoring tools to regularly audit and analyze SQL Server's memory usage, proactively detecting and resolving any issues.
Remember to test any changes in a controlled environment before implementing them in a production system. This will help ensure that the changes have the desired effect and do not cause unintended consequences.