Fix Hytale High Memory Usage

High memory usage can cause your Hytale server to lag, crash, or become unresponsive. This comprehensive guide will help you optimize memory allocation, identify memory leaks, and maintain stable performance.

Understanding Memory Usage in Hytale

Hytale servers typically use memory for:

• World generation and chunk loading
• Player data and inventory management
• Plugin and mod operations
• Java Virtual Machine overhead
• Cached resources and temporary data

Solution 1: Optimize Java Memory Settings

Proper RAM Allocation

Configure Java arguments for optimal memory usage:

# Basic configuration
-Xms4G -Xmx8G  # Initial and maximum heap size

# Advanced optimization
-Xms4G -Xmx8G 
-XX:+UseG1GC  # Garbage collector
-XX:MaxGCPauseMillis=200  # GC pause target
-XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions 
-XX:+UseStringDeduplication  # Reduce string memory
-XX:+UseCompressedOops  # Compress object pointers
-XX:+UseCompressedClassPointers  # Compress class metadata

Garbage Collector Tuning

Choose the right GC for your server size:

Solution 2: Server Configuration Optimization

World Generation Settings

Reduce memory usage with these world settings:

{
    "world": {
        "viewDistance": 8,  // Reduce from default 10
        "simulationDistance": 6,  // Reduce entity processing
        "chunkGeneration": {
            "threads": 2,  // Limit generation threads
            "queueSize": 100  // Limit chunk queue
        }
    }
}

Entity Management

Optimize entity settings to reduce memory:

• Limit maximum entities per chunk
• Reduce entity tracking distance
• Implement entity cleanup intervals
• Use entity activation ranges

Solution 3: Memory Monitoring and Diagnostics

Java Monitoring Tools

Use these tools to track memory usage:

# Enable JMX monitoring
-Dcom.sun.management.jmxremote
-Dcom.sun.management.jmxremote.port=9999
-Dcom.sun.management.jmxremote.authenticate=false
-Dcom.sun.management.jmxremote.ssl=false

# GC logging
-XX:+PrintGCDetails
-XX:+PrintGCTimeStamps
-Xloggc:/path/to/gc.log

Memory Analysis Commands

Solution 4: Plugin and Mod Optimization

Identify Problematic Plugins

Use this process to find memory-hungry plugins:

1. Monitor baseline memory usage without plugins
2. Add plugins one by one and measure memory impact
3. Use profiling tools to identify plugin memory usage
4. Check plugin developer forums for known issues

Plugin Best Practices

• Keep plugins updated to latest versions
• Remove unused plugins and dependencies
• Choose lightweight alternatives when possible
• Configure plugin settings for optimal performance

Solution 5: System-Level Optimization

Operating System Settings

Optimize your OS for server hosting:

• Disable unnecessary services and applications
• Configure swap space appropriately
• Use server-grade OS distributions
• Keep system packages updated

Linux Memory Management

For Linux servers, tune these parameters:

# /etc/sysctl.conf
vm.swappiness=10  # Reduce swap usage
vm.dirty_ratio=15  # Control dirty page writeback
vm.dirty_background_ratio=5  # Background writeback

Troubleshooting Memory Issues

Common Memory Problems

Emergency Memory Recovery

If your server is running out of memory:

1. Save world data immediately
2. Restart the server to clear memory
3. Temporarily reduce player limits
4. Disable resource-intensive plugins
5. Increase swap space as temporary measure

Preventive Maintenance

Regular Monitoring

Set up automated monitoring:

# Bash script for memory monitoring
#!/bin/bash
MEMORY_USAGE=$(free | grep Mem | awk '{printf("%.2f"), $3/$2 * 100.0}')
if (( $(echo "$MEMORY_USAGE > 80" | bc -l) )); then
    echo "High memory usage: $MEMORY_USAGE%"
    # Send alert or restart server
fi

Scheduled Maintenance

• Restart servers daily during low-traffic periods
• Review memory usage trends weekly
• Update plugins and server software monthly
• Perform deep memory analysis quarterly

Scaling for Growth

Plan your memory strategy for server growth:

• Start with 50% more RAM than you currently need
• Implement horizontal scaling for very large servers
• Use load balancing to distribute memory load
• Consider server clustering for massive communities

Optimize your Hytale server memory usage for stable performance and better player experience with these comprehensive optimization techniques.