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[qwms-avib AT dea.spamcon.org]

James Miller wrote:
>
> > mkswap /dev/hdxx    (this is done just once)
> > swapon /dev/hdxx
> >
> Just a couple of clarifications, Steven.  Do you 
> have to format the swap partition with ext2fs?  

No.  mke2fs does one type of formatting, mkswap does another.

> Also, since I didn't include swapon in my description, 
> I'd just like to ask what, exactly it does.  

It turns on the specified swap partition.

> Does this just make a newly created swap partition immediately 
> available for use (so the one need not reboot for a new fstab 
> entry to be read)?  

Yes.

> Or is the computer unable to use the swap partition at all if 
> this step is not taken?

No.  swapon/swapoff simply turns swap on and off.  

Cheers,
Steven