Fixed: IIS Worker Process High Memory Usage Windows Server 2019

If you have the same issue when ‘IIS worker process high memory usage Windows Server 2019’ and looking for solutions, you have come to the right place. Here we will tell what the problem and the cause that leads to it, and offers 2 feasible ways to solve.

What is considered as high memory?

In essence, determining high memory usage depends on the volume and activity of specific applications. Generally, it is considered high when the memory of ASP.NET worker process (Aspnet_wp.exe) or Internet Information Services (IIS) worker process (W3wp.exe) consistently increases and doesn't return to a comfortable level.

In broad terms, in a normally functioning IIS Server, the typical RAM consumption ranges between 300 to 600 MB, possibly reaching up to 700 MB during peak activity. A comfortable level is typically below 600 MB in the default 2-GB user memory address space.

When the usage exceeds 700 MB, it signals various scenarios such as:

• High Concurrent Web Users: A large number of users accessing the web simultaneously.
• Intensive Resources on Web Console: Resource-intensive elements are loaded on the web console.
• Multiple Rotating NOC Screens: Usage of multiple rotating Network Operation Center (NOC) screens.
• One User with Multiple Tabs: A single user operating with multiple open tabs.
• Multiple Users Logging in with a Single Account: Several users accessing the system using a shared account.
• Browser Auto-Refresh Settings: Browsers configured to auto-refresh pages every five minutes.
• Open sessions were not closed, and auto-logout settings were disabled.

Different applications have varying memory requirements, and exceeding these limits may necessitate adding more memory or servers to your Web farm. If the memory surpasses this level, it can impact system performance and other running applications.

This article gives 2 ways to troubleshoot IIS worker process high memory WSUS, namely, you can optimize the recycling settings and upgrade your original hard drive into a larger one.

How to solve IIS worker process memory keeps growing

Way 1. Optimize the recycling settings

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to optimize the recycling settings in the Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

Step 1. Open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager

- Press Win + R, type inetmgr, and hit Enter to open IIS Manager.

Step 2. Navigate to Application Pools

- In the left-hand Connections pane, expand your server's node, and click on Application Pools.

Step 3. Select the Application Pool

- Identify the specific application pool associated with your SolarWinds installation. Click on it to select.

Step 4. Access Recycling Settings

- In the right-hand Actions pane, click on Recycling... to access the recycling settings.

Step 5. Locate Regular Time Interval Setting

- In the Recycling Conditions window, find the setting labeled Regular Time Interval (minutes).

Step 6. Adjust the Value

- Change the value to a number greater than 0. For instance, set it to 5 for a 5-minute recycling interval.

Step 7. Save Changes

- Click Next or OK to save the new recycling settings.

Step 8. Test and Monitor

- Observe the performance of your SolarWinds environment after making these changes.

- Adjust the recycling interval based on server performance and memory usage.

Way 2. Upgrade your original hard drive ( Recommended)

When you find out WSUS IIS worker process high memory, you may think about enlarging your original limited hard drive size. Here, I'd like to introduce the powerful disk cloning software – AOMEI Backupper Server. It supports both Windows Server and Windows Client operating systems, including Windows Server 2022/2019/2016(R2)/2012(r2)/2008(r2), Windows 11/10/8/7, etc., and can help you clone HDD to new SSD or larger HDD with secure boot.

☎ Intelligent Cloning: It intelligently copies only used sectors, allowing cloning from a larger drive to a smaller one.
☎ Editing Partition Size: Users can easily edit partition sizes and allocate unused space when cloning to a larger or equal-sized disk.
☎ Partition Style Compatibility: The software supports cloning drives with different partition styles, like directly cloning GPT to MBR.
☎ SSD Performance Boost: This tool includes an SSD alignment feature, improving the reading and writing speed of the target SSD and extending its lifespan.
☎ User-Friendly Interface: With its intuitive design, the software is user-friendly, making it accessible for users of all levels, including beginners.

Download the free trial and follow the guide to have a try:

Step 1. Open this software and go to Clone and then Disk Clone.

Step 2. Select the disk you want to clone as the source disk and then click Next.

Step 3. Select the other disk as the destination disk, and then click Next.

Step 4. Tick SSD Alignment if your destination disk is SSD. Confirm the settings of the source and destination disk, and then click Start Clone.

Conclusion

When you face an ‘IIS worker process high memory usage Windows Server 2019’ issue, you can optimize the recycling settings or opt for upgrading your original hard drive to a larger one.

The second option is more practicable and commissive for further usage. To clone a hard drive, you can use AOMEI Backupper Server, which perfectly suits the Windows server system. This software enables you to sync files to cloud services like Google Drive and other cloud services. When you log on AOMEI account, you can also use AOMEI Cloud.