Linux OOM Score Tuning Cheat Sheet

Keep essential processes alive

Last Updated: November 21, 2025

Focus Areas

Focus
Inspect /proc/ /oom_score_adj
Monitor `dmesg` for OOM kill events

Commands & Queries

cat /proc/$(pidof systemd)/oom_score_adj
Check the score
echo -1000 > /proc/1234/oom_score_adj
Protect the process
journalctl -k | grep -i oom
Spot kills

Summary

Tuned scores keep key services alive when memory runs short.

💡 Pro Tip: Set adjustments during provisioning to survive reboots.
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