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What is linux swap partition ? |
luvsanro
Joined: Jan 22, 2004
Posts: 156
From: SAN
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I am preparing for installatin of red hat linux. I m creatin a partition [Ext3] using partition magic but it is askin bout a swap partition ? Dnt know wat is the purpose of that ? Plz tel
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Cycovision
Joined: Nov 30, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: England
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The swap partition is the portion of the hard drive that linux uses as virtual memory when it runs out of physical memory. It's similar to the windows swap file only instead of using an actual file, linux uses a partition on the hard drive instead.
The partition size should typically be twice as much as the amount of memory that your computer has. So, for example, if your computer has 512Mb of ram, you should create a swap partition of at least 1024Mb.
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sailaab
Joined: May 19, 2005
Posts: > 500
From: India
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Dunno about Linux per se.. But a Swap Partition
(Or Swap File) is some kinda Rescue mechanism an OS has. Basically a 'swap' area is not available for user. In times one needs an emergency Repair/ Format- this dud space gets used. If one has lavish disk space- keep it at 10% (otherwise 5%) of formatted disk capacity. However, I've also seen Swap area of just 500Mbytes. Sorry, not much help. But Google for 'swap file' & loads of it would be there..
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Cycovision
Joined: Nov 30, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: England
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@sailaab
You're thinking of a recovery partition, not a swap partiton / file 
The swap file / partition is used when the OS runs out of RAM memory. It starts using the hard drive as memory instead until RAM memory is freed up again.
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'He who laughs last, laughs longest. Or didn't get the joke...'
[ This Message was edited by: Cycovision on 2005-11-05 15:57 ] |
Johnex
Joined: Nov 26, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: Stockholm/Sweden
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Cyco is right, it is a virtual memory partition.
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sailaab
Joined: May 19, 2005
Posts: > 500
From: India
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Tsch Tsch ! I slept too much this afternoon. @Cyco- You are right.. Whatever a drowsy man can do ! Guess I got too mixed up.
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Posted: 2005-11-05 16:22
