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> > Message from Steven
> > ===================
> > > The machine is a 486DX4 with 16Mb RAM.  I divided hda
> > > into a 16Mb swap disk and the rest as ext2.
>
> [SNIP]
>
> > > Then divide a 1gig memory card into a big swap file
> >
> > As I understand it (I could be out of date), memory cards
> > only take a finite number of writes.  Using one for swap
> > risks wearing it out.  32mb swap is adequate for 16mb RAM.
> > More swap than that is not going to have a significant
> > effect on your 486.
>
> Current memory cards still do wear out after a finite number of writes,
> but the manufacturer specs have gone up considerably for this
> specification, so it shouldn't be a problem.  The cards are also
> supposed to balance the number of writes across the available
> locations, as well.

Our 1GB flash memory card has been written to only a few dozen times and 
some of the files have already gone bad (presumably they are on a bad area 
of the memory).

How big is your hard disk?
Sindi

> This said, unless the memory card is CompactFlash, being used as an IDE
> drive, I can't recommend it.  Putting swap on any removable media is a
> sure receipie for disaster, the first time one forgetfully pulls the
> card out while in operation.
>
> Anthony Albert