Most systems have specifications for using up to 4 GB of RAM. Depending on how busy your computer gets you may need to use more RAM. That would require a memory upgrade. The system will not automatically access the excess RAM unless you change some settings. You have to enter a switch in the boot file and reboot your server. Servers with less than 16 GB use a different command from those with more than 16 GB. An important point to note is that the server will need at least 1 GB to be able to access 16 GB of your RAM and 2 GB to be able to access more.

Set the AWE enabled min memory server option to 1 and then restart your server. You have to keep managing the server personally. Unless you do this, your server memory will remain as it was. This means the server can take up most of your RAM, leaving a little for the operating system. Unless you set a max memory server of your choice, the server will keep taking up your entire RAM. You can set this number as high as 2147483647. When you make any changes in the RAM, you also have to change the server settings.