a Linux user does not create a Swap partition while installing Linux?

just curious.

OR very very small swap partition for example around 50 megabytes?


thanks!

This has been debated endlessly, but here's a good article that sums it up: http://www.alexonlinux.com/swap-vs-no-swap
Basically swap, any swap, is a good thing. I would recommend having at least enough to suspend/hibernate if you are using a laptop, and on a system with adequate physical memory you'll rarely even hit swap.

I would recommend having at least a little, and a reasonable amount on a modern disk drive won't even be noticed.

It depends.....

How much RAM to you have?
What programs/files are open?

While you have some things running, open a terminal and run "top" and you can see how swap is being used.

Answers:
a) It depends on your need. If you have a small RAM you ought to have at least half or equal of its size for the swap.
b) If your system has enough RAM say 1.2Gb but you intend to use it heavily for embedded works you ought to have a swap equal to or half of that RAM size.
c) If you have enough RAM and intends to devote the machine mainly for basic light works then RAM is not needed.

This is only based on my experience as a newbie user. I am not an authority to the subject: the theoretical merits of swap-or-no-swap issue shall be decided by the nerds of the subject as provided by MBybees' link above.

I have observed that at my basic usage, only 15-24% is consumed of my 520Mb swap and this peak can only occur when I am running video files, so that, in bigger rams I was convinced that swap in not a matter of necessity but only of contingency. I have no swap partitions in some linux.

Hope this helps.