What is this "Kernel task"

[jamin00]

Just opened Activity monitor or whatever it is and noticed it was at the top on the memory page.

What is it and what do they do?

Also page ins and outs????

 

[squeakr]

In a nutshell, the Kernel is utilized by the OS for all sort of operations such as disk writes, cpu controls, etc. It is normal. Page in and outs are a swap file that the system uses to transfer data into and out of RAM as needed.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Everything in that screenshot looks normal. Unless something is going wrong with your computer I don't see any reason why you should be using Activity Monitor.

 

[jamin00]

Everything in that screenshot looks normal. Unless something is going wrong with your computer I don't see any reason why you should be using Activity Monitor.

I run free memory and noticed it said I only 1. something gb free and since I only just put in 8gb and only had mail and safari open (yes with quite a few pages, mostly forums) I thought I would check this to see what was using the memory as only 1. something was inactive. Also, in that app what is the memory in Wired??

Thanks again

 

[MagicBoy]

Everything in that screenshot looks normal. Unless something is going wrong with your computer I don't see any reason why you should be using Activity Monitor.

It's not like Activity Monitor is some super secret admin only tool!

The Kernel is the core of the operating system, so nothing to worry about.

As regards memory ... OS X will make best use of all the RAM that's installed. If it's not active (i.e. needed now) then it'll use it for caching files and keeping closed applications ready (inactive memory). If it needs the memory back then it throws the contents away and makes it free again.

Here's the Apple doc on decoding the labels in activity monitor : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1342

 

[bobr1952]

You can get an idea of the importance of Kernel Task by its task number--0. There are no other processes before this one.

 

[jamin00]

Thanks for all the answers people

Still new to all the Mac stuff but getting there with lots of reading and searching here otherwise I'd be posting left right and centre and thats frowned upon

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

I run free memory and noticed it said I only 1. something gb free and since I only just put in 8gb and only had mail and safari open (yes with quite a few pages, mostly forums) I thought I would check this to see what was using the memory as only 1. something was inactive. Also, in that app what is the memory in Wired?

Wired memory is memory allocated by the OS kernel and kernel extensions, usually for I/O operations (network, storage, graphics, devices I/O).

Save memory:
You should disable the plugins within Safari, if you do not use them. Disable also Dashboard via TinkerTool, if you do not use it.

If you want to save memory, use Firefox + the NoScript and Adblock Plus add-ons. These add-ons require a little configuration, but it is worth the effort.

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As regards memory ... OS X will make best use of all the RAM that's installed.

Wrong!

 

[MagicBoy]

Wrong!

Not this again. As far as the OP is concerned it does.

Mac OS X has very efficient memory management. It will automatically allocate memory and adjust the contents of memory as needed.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

Not this again. As far as the OP is concerned it does.

Mac OS X has very efficient memory management. It will automatically allocate memory and adjust the contents of memory as needed.

This is part of Apples marketing strategy. Mac OS X (especially Lion) caches GBs of data in the UBC, even if you do not need the data.