Windows 2003 Memory Question

Hi all, new to the forum.

I am in the process of building a 3+1 Win2k3 cluster with SQL 2000. Once I got through all the funky install issues, everything is running great. In fact, working with the new cluster services has been such a breath of fresh air compared even to Win2K. The SAN abilities of W2K3 with on the fly drive additions and such are just awesome.

Anyway, the issue I am seeing has to do with memory. The boxes all have 8gb. First thing I noticed was Win2K3 seems to automatically enable the /PAE option. It's not in the boot.ini but the server "knows" it is using AWE support, which is fine. What confuses me is if I give SQL (awe enabled) a fixed 7.5gb of RAM to play with, it seems to actually use it, without the 3gb option or any regard for the OS. I was able to push it to 7.9gb leaving the OS about 50mb and it allowed it, or at least it looks like it allows it. Target and total memory counters for SQL Memory show it using the full 7.9gb, but taskmgr shows SQL using 80mb. I seem to remember reading that this is normal somewhere; taskmgr can't accurate display memory use. The available physical memory in taskmgr does reflect that all physical ram is in use.

Adding the PAE and 3GB options to the boot.ini appears to have made no impact. Almost like they were already there anyway?

Can anyone explain Win2k3 and SQL 2000 memory stuff to me? I feel dumb right now.

Thanks!