Swap size

[Shahul]

Hi,

I am using top to find swap size. Is it the righ way? Or do you know any other command like swapinfo or swap ...etc in linux.

TIA
Shahul

[Matt Palmer_2]

hi you could try 'swapon -s' or catting /proc/swap/xxx/xxx

HTH

bye

[Roberto Polli]

free -m

man free

Peace, R

[Martin P.J. Zinser]

Hi,

on my systems it is actually /proc/swaps
containing this information not /proc/swap/xxx

Greetings, Martin

[Francisco J. Soler]

Hi,

What about

cat /proc/meminfo

you obtain memory information including the swap.

Frank.

[Alexander M. Ermes]

Hi there.
We ususally take about 1.5 times the total memory size.
Rgds
Alexander M. Ermes

[Rupesh_7]

Towards the safer size make the swap space a multiple of 16 to the nearest twice main memory. Most of the times it will come to about twice RAM.

[Steven E. Protter]

Since we're making recommondations, the real answer is "it depends"

If the server is going to be overloaded and asked to do more than its rated for historically, 2.0 to 2.5 times main memory is as far as you can go with swap.

If you want a server that is very efficient, you can cut it down to 1.5 times main memory.

I've been running a production web server at swap slightly less than main memory for quite some time. I got it with 256 MB and did a 1.0 GB upgrade on it while it was in production. Since it was in production it didn't pay to expand swap for a web server.

So the answer varies.

I will tell you than on an experimental box, I once went 4.0 times RAM. Using that box was like watching grass grow.

You pay your money, you take your choice.

Wasn't this thread originally about how to check swap?

SEP

[KapilRaj]

swapon -s # SuSE Linux

Kaps

[sam_111]

hi Shahul,

you can get swap info different commands.

I always try to get info from proc.

cat /proc/swaps
cat /proc/meminfo

vmstat -s will give you a detailed info.

regards,

sam

[Mark Grant]

Hey SEP,

I ran a box without any swap at all for a while (had no choice). Worked fine but then I was fairly certain I wouldn't run out of RAM. Isn't Linux great :)

P.S. No points for this aimless ramble of a post please

[Yong_7]

Hi Mark,

it's linux magic we can live WITHOUT swap.

but I would like to find out the balance point for using swap.

here is info from Linux kernel developers.

http://kerneltrap.org/node/view/3202


Cheers !

YJ