NETGEAR fully managed switches (M4300, M4250, M4350 Series) often display high memory utilization readings in the device UI or CLI. This is expected behavior and does not indicate a fault by itself. This article explains what is normal, how to monitor stability, and when to escalate.
What is normal behavior?
After you power on the switch, it pre‑allocates 70–90% of system memory depending on the SDM template and enabled features.
This allocation ensures feature readiness.
When you manage the switch through the AV UI, the memory usage on M4300 can display between 85–90% and remain stable.
High readings alone are not a fault unless you experience instability in the switch.
Why is the memory usage so high?
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NETGEAR switches reserve memory for routing tables and multicast handling, AV UI processes, and QoS and security features.
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Reserved memory displays as “used” in the device UI, even if not actively consumed.
Monitor stability
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Check for trends:
Normal: Memory usage remains flat over time.
Irregular: Continuous increase after you restart the switch.
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UI responsiveness:
If the device UI or CLI responds slowly, further investigation is necessary. -
Set thresholds:
- Navigate to System > Management > System CPU Status > CPU Threshold.
- Verify the firmware version. Upgrade to the latest stable release, for example for M4300, use version 12.0.19.15 or newer.
When to escalate
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When the memory usage keeps increasing and does not reset after you restart the switch.
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When the device UI or CLI responds slowly or service performance degrades.
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When correlated errors in logs
Recommended actions
- Download a tech support file before escalation.
- Verify the firmware version. Upgrade to the latest stable release, for example for M4300, use version 12.0.19.15 or newer.
- Check the AV configuration. Ensure IGMP Snooping/Querier and AV profiles follow current guidelines.