What is the meaning of "available RAM" for calculating MySQL max_connections The question was asked previously, "how do I calculate MySQL max_connections" and this was the answer:


  max_connections = (Available RAM - Global Buffers) / Thread Buffers


Since I don't have enough reputation to add a comment to the existing question I had to ask a brand new question.  

I can get the buffer values by executing : SHOW VARIABLES LIKE '%buffer%'; but what is the available RAM part of this equation exactly?

Is this value in bytes, kilobytes, megabytes?  Something else?  Also, do I use the available RAM shown in the resource monitor while my site is being used, or do I need to use the total amount of RAM installed on the machine?
I'd say 'Available RAM' means max memory mysql can claim. And 'Global buffers' would mean buffers like innodb_buffer_pool, key_buffer_size, query_cache_size, etc.