How to simulate OutOfMemory exception

Question

I need to refactor my project in order to make it immune to OutOfMemory exception.

There are huge collections used in my project and by changing one parameter I can make my program to be more accurate or use less of the memory...

OK, that's the background. What I would like to do is to run the routines in a loop:

1. Run the subroutines with the default parameter.
2. Catch the OutOfMemory exception, change the parameter and try to run it again.
3. Do the 2nd point until parameters allow to run the subroutines without throwing the exception (usually, there will be only one change needed).

Now, I would like to test it. I know, that I can throw the OutOfMemory exception on my own, but I would like to simulate some real situation.

So the main question is:
Is there a way of setting some kind of memory limit for my program, after reaching which the OutOfMemory exception will be thrown automatically?
For example, I would like to set a limit, let's say 400MB of memory for my whole program to simulate the situation when there is such an amount of memory available in the system.
Can it be done?

Answer 1

This looks like a job for...System.Runtime.MemoryFailPoint.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.runtime.memoryfailpoint.aspx

I think the example in the link fits your situation. Set the MemoryFailPoint to whatever level you need and then catch the InsufficientMemoryException and adjust your input parameters accordingly.

Answer 2

public void EatMemory()
{
    List<byte[]> wastedMemory = new List<byte[]>();

    while(true)
    {
        byte[] buffer = new byte[4096]; // Allocate 4kb
        wastedMemory.Add(buffer);
    }
}

Shouldn't take long unless you've got 12gb of ram :)

Answer 3

Just allocate a very large array. You'll most likely start getting out of memory exceptions once your C# application reaches 1.2-1.6GB of RAM usage (usually on the lower side of that range, provided its targetting x86).

Answer 4

string value = new string('crazy', int.MaxValue);