What is the Linux "Swap"

[daniel161]

Hi everyone! What is the "Swap" partition? Why does it need it? Will 2gb be enough? Thanks!



--Daniel L

 

[twite]

You need to explain what you are talking about.

Which linux distro are you using?

How big is the H.D that you are using?

 

[DelJo63]

Hi everyone! What is the "Swap" partition? Why does it need it? Will 2gb be enough?

Unix/Linux Swap partition has the same usage
as the windows pagefile.sys; Pages of real memory are moved to/fro as needed.

The normal setup for a Swap partition is 2x real ram installed, but not more than
3x. You need a separate partition as it has its own formatting requirements

 

[daniel161]

Thanks for the help!



Twite, it is a 15 GB HD partitioned at 13 and 2 GB. (Compaq Standard)
And the installed OS is UBUNTU.





--Daniel L

 

[Nodsu]

You can also use a swapfile no problem if you don't want to waste disk space on a dedicated partition. The performance difference is nonexistent unless you plan on doing very heavy swapping. 2GB of swap is more than enough for any sane use.

 

[Phantasm66]

There's a wonderful invention called Google. You should try it.

http://www.bellevuelinux.org/swap_space.html

 

[mk_once]

1 time you grfx-memory is often also fine, more the 2x is wasted..
google your Distributon Userforum !!