Why Swap is double of RAM ?
 

hi ,

i have a query..

why the size of Swap partition has to be double of RAM ? why it is not same as the size of the ram or thrice etc.? why double ?

thanks.

tofee

thats old thumb rule buddy.
size of swap = size of RAM X 2

old b'coz of the days when systems didn't had much RAM.
But now a days when people are generally having 512 and 1024 Mb of RAM, this thumb rule fails.
i've 256 Mb of RAM and keeping only 200 Mb of swap.
Ok, i don't use very heavy applications which consumes memory but still 512 Mb and 1024 Mb of RAM is not a small thing.

so just to be on safer side leave some space for swap.

regards

I've seen statements on swap anywhere from "you dont need it" to 2X RAM. I use 1.5 because that's what I read most often.
I doubt if you are going to get a definitive answer to this.

hi there ,

ok ... thank you. :)

If you have 256MB of RAM I'd have the same in swap. 1GB RAM you might be able to get away with no swap. 2GB+ you won't need swap unless it's on a server of some shape or description running an app that will use it.

agreed with your concept.