Baslinux mailing list

[qwms-avib AT dea.spamcon.org]

James Miller wrote:
> 
> So this is for making a swap file, as opposed to 
> using a partition for swap.  I've been wondering 
> how that works.  This could be a useful script, 

Here's one for a 64mb swap file:
---------------------------------------------
cd /
dd if=/dev/zero of=swapfile bs=1k count=65536
mkswap swapfile
sync
swapon swapfile
---------------------------------------------

> Steven, could you say something about what are the
> merits/demerits of using a swap file as opposed to 
> dedicating a partition to swap?  

Partition is faster.  I rarely use a swap file.  The 
only time I would use a file is when a partition is 
too difficult.

> this script is apparently written for adding more swap 
> "on the fly" - i.e., when a particularly memory intensive 
> application needs to be run - correct?  

I believe that live CDrom/ZipDrive versions of Linux 
use swap files rather than swap partitions.  Putting a 
(temporary) swap file on the local HD is *much* easier 
than trying to create (repartition?) a swap partition.

Cheers,
Steven