Does Linux Need Swap Partition?
Contents

If you have a computer with a small amount of memory, a swap partition is highly recommended. As a test, we set up a virtual machine with 1 gigabyte of RAM and no swap partition and installed Peppermint Linux, which uses the LXDE desktop, and overall, it has a low memory footprint.

Does Ubuntu still need a swap partition?

If you need hibernation, a swap of the size of RAM becomes necessary for Ubuntu. … If RAM is less than 1 GB, swap size should be at least the size of RAM and at most double the size of RAM. If RAM is more than 1 GB, swap size should be at least equal to the square root of the RAM size and at most double the size of RAM.

What is the purpose of swap partition in Linux?

Swap space in Linux is used when the amount of physical memory (RAM) is full. If the system needs more memory resources and the RAM is full, inactive pages in memory are moved to the swap space. While swap space can help machines with a small amount of RAM, it should not be considered a replacement for more RAM.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.

Share this article
Twitter Facebook Pinterest