Memory release

[Kvetch]

I have an old server run low on memory the other day and it started swapping. We have monitoring tools in place to alert us when this box runs low on memory. The montioring tool doesn't technically report back the true memory status. It shows the same thing something like top would but not like free which reports actual usage not just how much the OS has grabbed. Since the box ran low, the memory stats have shown that it isn't swapping anymore but the OS is still holding on to it incase it needs it again. We have corrected the issue and the box shouldn't swap again unless of course something else pops up.
My question is if there is a way other than turning the swap off/on to get the OS to release it's hold on that memory so it can report back to the monitoring app.

Thanks,
Nick

[coolsnowmen]