Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 12

Thread: swap file usage always at 0%, is it disabled?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    a van down by the river
    Beans
    312
    Distro
    Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal

    swap file usage always at 0%, is it disabled?

    I recently added a screenlet that shows usage for RAM, CPU and swap file. The RAM and CPU respond as expected to actions that would increase demand on them but the swap always sits at 0% no matter what I am doing.

    How can I test that it is even working, or working right? Could my swap file use be disabled? I have a live CD install of 8.10 64 bit.
    Q6600 Quad Core @2.4GHz, 1333MHz FSB, 4GB DDR1066 DDR2

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Beans
    7,419
    Distro
    Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron

    Re: swap file usage always at 0%, is it disabled?

    it's possible you have a lot of ram and the system never needs to use it

    double check system>admin>system monitor>resources tab

    you can do

    sudo swapon -a

    then check again. as long as there's a swap entry in /etc/fstab it will activate it

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Switzerland
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Kubuntu Jaunty Jackalope (testing)

    Re: swap file usage always at 0%, is it disabled?

    open a terminal, run
    Code:
    sudo apt-get install htop
    then
    Code:
    htop
    and you'll have a nice overview over your system.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Germany
    Beans
    1,805

    Re: swap file usage always at 0%, is it disabled?

    In a terminal, run
    Code:
    free -m
    Does it report a non-zero total swap? (Look in the last row, first column.)
    ...

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Beans
    7,419
    Distro
    Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron

    Re: swap file usage always at 0%, is it disabled?

    Quote Originally Posted by hyper_ch View Post
    open a terminal, run
    Code:
    sudo apt-get install htop
    then
    Code:
    htop
    and you'll have a nice overview over your system.
    yeah, htop is great, it's what i use--no ram-hogging gui and it makes killing apps easy

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Beans
    451

    Re: swap file usage always at 0%, is it disabled?

    Thanks for the recommendation, htop rocks (i always used system monitor)

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    a van down by the river
    Beans
    312
    Distro
    Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal

    Re: swap file usage always at 0%, is it disabled?

    I have 4 GB of RAM and system monitor is showing 0 of 1.8GB used for the swap file. So I guess I just have enough RAM that I don't need it. RAM was 850MB of 4GB used.
    Q6600 Quad Core @2.4GHz, 1333MHz FSB, 4GB DDR1066 DDR2

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Switzerland
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Kubuntu Jaunty Jackalope (testing)

    Re: swap file usage always at 0%, is it disabled?

    if you're on 32bit you can't use more than 4gb ram anyway.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Doha
    Beans
    64

    Re: swap file usage always at 0%, is it disabled?

    The following link will give further information about the swap file usage.

    http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/linux-swap-space.html

    nixCraft is a nice site, keeping good guides to GNU/Linux usage.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Magic City of the Plains
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Xubuntu Development Release

    Re: swap file usage always at 0%, is it disabled?

    Quote Originally Posted by Kill Vista View Post
    I have 4 GB of RAM and system monitor is showing 0 of 1.8GB used for the swap file. So I guess I just have enough RAM that I don't need it. RAM was 850MB of 4GB used.
    I have 2GB RAM, and have never touched swap--and I do have quite a few programs running concurrently.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •