diff --git a/group_vars/shell.yml b/group_vars/shell.yml
index c46ad4a..cefac15 100644
--- a/group_vars/shell.yml
+++ b/group_vars/shell.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # beef up shell hosts
 dsk_size: 40
-mem_size: 4096
+mem_size: 8192
 num_cpus: 4
 
 firewall_in: