Swap space?

[theguy0000]

I am currently installing Debian on a Dell XPS 600 qith a 500GB HD, 2GB memory, and a Pentium D prosecor. I created a 20GB ext3 partition for debian to run on in the installer's partitioning menu.

You have not selectd any partitions for use as swap space. Enabling swap space is recommended so that the system can make better use of the available physical memory, and so that it behaves better when physical memory is scarce. You may experience installation problems if you do not have enough physical memory.

If you do not go back to the partitioning menu and assign a swap partition, the installation will continue without swap space.

Do I actually have any significant chance of having problems with 2GB of memory? If so, how do I assign a "swap partition"?

[techieMoe]

Do I actually have any significant chance of having problems with 2GB of memory? If so, how do I assign a "swap partition"?

I've not actually tried the no swap option before, but I've also not heard of anyone having trouble either. I usually just give a tiny swap (like 128MB) so that the installers won't complain. Most modern computers (with more than 512MB of RAM) very rarely if ever use swap memory.

[theguy0000]

so a 2GB computer will have no trouble at all I assume.

thanks!

[techieMoe]

so a 2GB computer will have no trouble at all I assume.

thanks!

I only have 1GB and I never use my swap, so yes. I think you're in fine shape.

[Unforgiven]

I'd be interested to hear back and confirm there are no problems. I agree, it seems logical that you'll probably never use it anyway, but like the above I've never installed without a swap partition, either.

[valan]

You should be fine with that much memory and no swap in most cases. Best to have swap partition anyway though, it could cause your system to be unstable and crash if it's needed and not there.

[socrazy143]

It is always a good idea to have swap space. Throw on 4 gb (twice your ram). With all that hard drive space you aren't going to miss it.

[theguy0000]

I have Debian installed.

If I use a windows program to create a partition with type "linux swap", will that assign a swap partition, or do i have to do extra steps to allow Debian to use it?

[valan]

heh 4 gb swap is completely unnessecary for all but the rarest cases

[techieMoe]

It is always a good idea to have swap space. Throw on 4 gb (twice your ram). With all that hard drive space you aren't going to miss it.

Actually, no. With more than 512MB of RAM, there is absolutely no reason to have more than a minimum amount (128MB or so) of swap. I would dare say that unless you have 15,000rpm harddrives there is never a good reason to have 4GB of swap. The reason being that swap space is only used when your system runs out of physical memory, and when swap is used there's a serious performance hit, since RAM transfers at speeds far faster than harddrives can spin. Your system performance will lag considerably if you have to constantly access your swap space. The "twice your RAM" argument is outdated.