# Monitor Run-time RAM usage

Options in the Memory tab of the Global Connections editor allow developers to monitor how much memory is used by the application when it is running. It is strongly recommended that these connections be used during development and testing of FactoryTalk View ME applications to ensure that they do not exceed the limitations of the hardware. If the application is designed beyond the limitations of the PanelView Plus and PanelView Plus CE hardware, it should be modified to reduce memory usage, or possibly deployed on a PC-based platform such as the PanelView Plus Industrial PC.

As the application is developed and tested, the application should be run on the PanelView Plus or PanelView Plus CE terminal with the ME Runtime RAM Usage connection enabled. The application developer should then navigate to all screens and exercise all functions of the application to monitor memory usage.

## Hardware limitations

- The PanelView Plus and PanelView Plus CE platforms have a 32MB process limit, which means that the application can consume no more than 32MB of memory at run time. Use the ME Runtime RAM Usage feature to determine if the application you are developing is approaching this limit.
- When running on the PanelView Plus and PanelView Plus CE platforms, FactoryTalk View ME Station has a tag connection cache threshold of 26MB. If run-time RAM usage exceeds 26MB, screen change performance will slow down significantly as the system adds and removes tag connections from the cache. If your application's ME Runtime RAM Usage exceeds 26MB and you are experiencing slow application performance, consider modifying the application to reduce memory usage or moving to a PC platform.
- Global connections can also monitor an application's Total RAM Usage and Available RAM. When developing a FactoryTalk View ME application, it is advisable monitor these values to ensure that the application does not exceed the available RAM installed in the terminal.

## See also

About global connections

Set up global connections - Memory tab

Available RAM

ME Runtime RAM Usage

Remote RAM Usage

Total RAM Usage

Set up global connections - Memory tab