NWMKDE uses a large amount of memory after upgrading Pervasive SQL (btrieve)

After upgrading Pervasive SQL from the default 7.9x version that ships with Novell NetWare 6.5 to version 9.x the server would run out of memory at server startup. "Cache allocator out of available memory" errors are seen.

On closer inspection using "Monitor, System Resources, Alloc Memory" NWMKDE was using a large amount of memory, roughly 700MB.

This was despite the BTI.CFG file being configured to allow only the default 2MB of cache. Below is an excerpt from the BTI.CFG:

[MicroKernel]
CacheSize=2048
MaxFiles=50

The default setting for Pervasive SQL version 9.x is to assign 20% of total server memory as cache. However with version 9.x Pervasive SQL no longer reads the SYS:\SYSTEM\BTI.CFG for its settings. The"SYS:\ETC\PSRGSTRY.INI" are now used to read all settings for Pervasive SQL and this file needs to be modified to specify the cache size or any other non-default settings:

[PS_HKEY_CONFIG\Software\Pervasive Software\MicroKernel Server Engine\Version 9\Settings]
Cache Size=2048

Change the above parameter to have Pervasive SQL use a lower desired cache setting and then restart the server.