Manually Creating a Swapfile

[pooface]

I've seen a few people asking how to create a swap file for pli image, vti image etc... Have already posted these instructions somewhere on the forum, but putting them in a new thread to hopefully make it easier for people to fine

Anyway, this is what you should do (worked for me).

First off, telnet in to the box using your favourite telnet programme.

Then, type the following command (after count, enter the size of file you want. In example below, it is a 128mb swap - 1024 x 128 = 131072):

dd if=/dev/zero of=/media/usb/swapfile bs=1024 count=131072

Then, set up a linux swap area:

mkswap /media/usb/swapfile

Now, to activate the swap space immediately, type:

swapon /media/usb/swapfile

Now, activate the swap file to load when the vu duo loads, we need to edit the fstab file. To do this, type the following command to edit the fstab file:

vi /etc/fstab

Add the following line to the file:

/media/usb/swapfile  swap                 swap       defaults              0 0

Now, when the box restarts, the swap file should automatically be enabled...

To verify that it has worked correctly, type the following command in a telnet session:

free

This should give you some information similar to below:

              total         used         free       shared      buffers
  Mem:       140848       135964         4884            0          564
 Swap:       131064         1848       129216
Total:       271912       137812       134100

[SLOTH]

Thanks Pooface ...i,ll give that a go when i get a minute !
Cheers
Sloth

[Sicilian]

Good post pooface, made it a sticky

[cbr900]

what is the benefit of using Swapfile? why to use it?

[pooface]

Basically, it gives your system more memory to cache things to, and should help to stop any problems you may get... Here's the wikipedia information on in:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_swapping

[andyblac]

type:

free

in a telnet session, and it will give you the amount of swap / physical memory used and free.

after you have step up a swap test to see if you are using it, if not than don't bother with one it will only hinder the system.

Andy,

[Rob van der Does]

Basically, it gives your system more memory to cache things to, and should help to stop any problems you may get...

Hmmmmm, let's ask the same question in other words: why should the VU need more memory? I think it has plenty and therefore doesn't need a slow swapfile.

[andyblac]

Hmmmmm, let's ask the same question in other words: why should the VU need more memory? I think it has plenty and therefore doesn't need a slow swapfile.

all depends on how many plugin's, cam's, etc, etc, your using

as i said type free, to see what memory is available.

andy

[pooface]

As an example, let's show you what mine currently says:

              total         used         free       shared      buffers
  Mem:       140848       118636         22212            0          552
 Swap:       131064       32992          98072
Total:       271912       151628         120284

This alternates with the amount of free space on the vu being lower and amount of free space on the swap being higher, depending on the processes being run etc...

[Ojustaboo]

Out of interest, what does the size of the buffers mean

for me I have

              total         used          free       shared      buffers
  Mem:       141448       1383526         3096            0         9764
 Swap:       131064       2852            128212
Total:       272512       141204          131308

[Rob van der Does]

all depends on how many plugin's, cam's, etc, etc, your using

You will need to use an incredible amount of pluguns to suffer from memory shortage.......
I don't think the VU will ever need a swapfile.

[pooface]

You will need to use an incredible amount of pluguns to suffer from memory shortage.......
I don't think the VU will ever need a swapfile.

I beg to differ there mate, sorry... Did you see my usage in my post earlier ... Plus, when I checked it last night, there was even more used! Don't have many plugins installed at all. Am using the vti image. I installed the movie cut, movie tag, move retitle, apache/php server and possibly a few others. Wouldn't call this a lot of plugins.

Where the need for swap is required, is the amount of memory asked for by the plugins etc. So, although you're probably only using 1 plugin, if that plugin is quite memory hungry, then you will find that you need a swap file...

[Rob van der Does]

I beg to differ there mate, sorry... Did you see my usage in my post earlier ... Plus, when I checked it last night, there was even more used! Don't have many plugins installed at all. Am using the vti image. I installed the movie cut, movie tag, move retitle, apache/php server and possibly a few others. Wouldn't call this a lot of plugins.

Where the need for swap is required, is the amount of memory asked for by the plugins etc. So, although you're probably only using 1 plugin, if that plugin is quite memory hungry, then you will find that you need a swap file...

I run the VU with 26 plugins and a lot of Picons: there is always plenty of free memory (without using a swapfile) and never any problem (using PLi).

BTW: there is only one way to see the free memory properly, and that is: " cat /proc/meminfo" , and then (MemTotal minus MemFree minus Buffers minus Cached) = Free Memory

[Sicilian]

Not quite sure how to explain this, but isn't it a case that the more memory a linux system has installed the more it will use to optimise performance, i.e. create a large cache. Better explanation here

http://thelinuxnewbie.blogspot.com/2006/08/linux-uses-too-much-memory-very-basic.html

[Rob van der Does]

People tend to get upset by marks: if the idea is to have a fast and faultless working system, judge it by the result, not by benchmarks. Is there any body who has solved any problem or got a faster and more reliable VU+ DUO by using a swapfile? I sincerely doubt that.