(18.10)How to specify which swap partition to use?

[pD43WfR]

Hello there!

I was going to install Ubuntu 18.10 in a multi-boot configuration, where I also have another Linux distro installed. I have an SSD drive that I wanted to dedicate to my Ubuntu installation.

I went to create an efi/ext4/swap setup for that SSD as shown here (apologies if the image is a bit big):

https://i.imgur.com/r3gDv9e.jpg

However, when I went to click "Install Now" it wants to use a different swap partition from /dev/sda AS WELL as the one I created as shown here:

https://i.imgur.com/lHs6K7k.jpg

I'm sure this isn't what I want. I have a Manjaro installation on /dev/sda as shown here:

https://i.imgur.com/opwne5N.jpg
Is there any way to make the installation do what I want?

[23dornot23d]

You can always edit /etc/fstab after the install to remove the swap UID that you do not want to use.

I usually use gparted and look at information to find the UID of the swap partitions ......

Then delete the swap information from /etc/fstab ....... often just the last line in the listing - but always check to see the UID
matches the one you intend to remove.

There may be easier ways that include no manual editing of the fstab ..... but this is just for information ........

should you not get any other response ......... as the installer seems to have picked up the other swap space automagically.

[pD43WfR]

Here in the installer it's saying that the swap partition is going to be formatted. I don't really know too well how swap partitions work, but would that affect my other Linux distro in any way by formatting it?

If it's safe to do so and then edit that post-installation I guess I might do that, but formatting it is the part that worries me.

[Dennis N]

...would that affect my other Linux distro in any way by formatting it?
No it won't. It's OK for the Ubuntu installer format the swap partitions here. I have Ubuntu and Manjaro using the same swap partition.

[ajgreeny]

In 18.04 and 18.10 you can delete any existing swap partition as it uses a swap-file instead, but if you have a swap partition already it will be found during installation and used by the new OS automatically.

The installer always says that it will format the swap partition if there is one, so don't worry about it; either delete the current swap partition and expand the next door partition into the now empty space, or leave it where it is and continue with installing.

More details at https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2396032
https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2390779