Tuning Odoo Server Memory: Configuration Guide for Optimal Performance

Total Server RAM (16GB)
├── Odoo Workers (9 workers × 1.2GB) = 10.8GB
├── PostgreSQL (3GB for buffers/cache)
├── System OS (1.2GB)
└── Free/Cache (1GB emergency buffer)

Worker allocated: 1.2GB
Worker uses: 1.5GB (memory leak or heavy request)

limit_memory_soft: 1.2GB → Worker restarts after current request
limit_memory_hard: 1.5GB → Worker killed immediately

Without limits: Memory grows until OOM killer crashes system

Workers = (CPU Cores × 2) + 1

Examples:
- 2 cores → 5 workers
- 4 cores → 9 workers
- 8 cores → 17 workers

Constraint: Don't exceed (Total RAM / 1.5GB per worker)

If 16GB RAM: 16 / 1.5 ≈ 10 workers max
If formula gives 17 workers, use 10 instead

Available RAM for Odoo = Total RAM - PostgreSQL - OS - Buffer

For 16GB server:
16GB (total) - 3GB (PostgreSQL) - 1.2GB (OS) = 11.8GB for Odoo

limit_memory_hard = Available RAM / Workers
limit_memory_soft = 0.75 × limit_memory_hard

If 9 workers:
limit_memory_hard = 11.8GB / 9 ≈ 1,310MB
limit_memory_soft = 0.75 × 1,310MB ≈ 983MB

[options]
workers = 9
limit_memory_soft = 983
limit_memory_hard = 1310

# Cron jobs need CPU (don't max out workers with cron)
max_cron_threads = 2

# Database connections
db_maxconn = (workers × 2) + 10
# If workers=9: db_maxconn = 28

# Request timeouts
limit_time_real = 120  # 2 minutes max per request
limit_time_cpu = 60    # 1 minute CPU time
limit_request = 8192   # Max requests per worker before restart

[options]
; Listening
host = 0.0.0.0
port = 8069

; Database
db_host = localhost
db_user = odoo
db_password = password
db_maxconn = 44  # (17 × 2) + 10

; Workers & Memory
workers = 17
limit_memory_soft = 1058
limit_memory_hard = 1411
limit_time_real = 120
limit_time_cpu = 60
limit_request = 8192

; Cron jobs
max_cron_threads = 2

; Other
logfile = /var/log/odoo/odoo.log
log_level = info

# Swappiness (how often to use swap)
# 0-10: Minimal swap (use for servers with enough RAM)
# 60-100: Use swap freely (for systems with limited RAM)
vm.swappiness = 10

# Cache pressure (when to reclaim cache)
# 50: Default (good balance)
# 100: Aggressive reclaim (for tight memory)
vm.vfs_cache_pressure = 50

# Overcommit memory (allow RAM overallocation)
# 0: Conservative (recommended for Odoo)
# 1: Allow overcommit
vm.overcommit_memory = 0

# Apply changes
sudo sysctl -p

# Check current settings
sysctl vm.swappiness
sysctl vm.vfs_cache_pressure

# Check memory usage
free -h

# Check swap usage
swapon --show

# For 32GB server, 4GB swap is good emergency buffer
sudo fallocate -l 4G /swapfile
sudo chmod 600 /swapfile
sudo mkswap /swapfile
sudo swapon /swapfile
echo '/swapfile none swap sw 0 0' | sudo tee -a /etc/fstab

# Check each worker's memory
ps aux | grep odoo | grep worker

# Output:
# odoo     1234  5.2 12.1 2834568 3984432  worker 0
# odoo     1235  4.8 11.9 2814456 3904256  worker 1
# Column 4: % of RAM
# Column 6: Memory in KB

# Worker 0: 12.1% of 32GB ≈ 3.9GB (too high!)
# Should be < 5% (1.6GB)

# /etc/odoo/odoo.conf
log_level = debug

# Check logs for patterns
tail -f /var/log/odoo/odoo.log | grep "memory"

#!/bin/bash
THRESHOLD=80  # Alert if RAM > 80% used
USAGE=$(free | grep Mem | awk '{print ($3/$2) * 100}')

if (( $(echo "$USAGE > $THRESHOLD" | bc -l) )); then
    echo "WARNING: Memory usage at ${USAGE}%" | mail -s "Odoo Memory Alert" admin@example.com
fi

# Add to crontab to run every 5 minutes
# */5 * * * * /usr/local/bin/check_memory.sh