On RedHat Linux 6.2 I\'m running free -m and it shows nearly all 8GB used
free -m
8GB
total used free shared buffer
Also, as the first line shows total used free shared buffers cached Mem: 7989 7734 254 0 28 7128 -/+ buffers/cache: 578 7411
total used free shared buffers cached Mem: 7989 7734 254 0 28 7128 -/+ buffers/cache: 578 7411
If we add (cached[7128] + buffers[28] + free[254]), we will get approximately the second line's free[7411] value 7128 + 28 + 254 = 7410
7128 + 28 + 254 = 7410