Partitioning SSD

goumba · 12-01-2016, 01:59 PM

I'm with 273 - no swap partition, set up a swap file. You can still hibernate with a swap file, but if you decide to ditch it, it's easier done than repartitioning.

Also, add a file to /etc/sysctl.d such as 51-swap.conf or add the following to sysctl.conf if your distribution uses that instead:

Code:

vm.swappiness = 1

this will tell the kernel to swap as least often as possible.

273 · 12-01-2016, 02:07 PM

I should point out my recomendation is based upon my having 32GB of RAM and never managing to flood it but, when I had 16GB, I did run a browser vulnerability which used it all.
So, I run without swap as I think it a 20th century nonsense but, were I less contrary, I'd perhaps have a small file to give warning.

snowday · 12-01-2016, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarpCharacin

How big should I make it? I am not sure so that is why I am asking here.

In the 1 week since you originally asked this question, have you considered simply taking an hour or two to read the Arch Linux Installation Guide (instead of soliciting dubious advice from random internet strangers)?

Quote:

There are no strict rules for partitioning a hard drive... Single root partition... is the simplest and should be enough for most use cases... It usually makes sense to start by considering a single / partition

That is the official advice of the Arch team... However...

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarpCharacin

How big would a distro like ubuntu or debian make the swap partition for 64gb of ram?

If you don't trust the advice of the Arch team, and would prefer to follow Ubuntu or Debian's advice, you can read more here:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwapFaq
https://wiki.debian.org/Swap

CarpCharacin · 12-01-2016, 07:47 PM

But what if I click hibernate and there is no swap partition? I do not plan to reinstall the OS ever. Arch is a rolling release distro and that is one of the main reasons I am going with it. I am going to build a NAS and I will be storing most of my files there. So the arch team says to not have a swap partition?

CarpCharacin · 12-01-2016, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goumba

I'm with 273 - no swap partition, set up a swap file. You can still hibernate with a swap file, but if you decide to ditch it, it's easier done than repartitioning.

Also, add a file to /etc/sysctl.d such as 51-swap.conf or add the following to sysctl.conf if your distribution uses that instead:

Code:

vm.swappiness = 1

this will tell the kernel to swap as least often as possible.

You have 273 GB of ram? What do you need all that ram for?

snowday · 12-02-2016, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarpCharacin

So the arch team says to not have a swap partition?

In the words of Team Arch: "There are no strict rules for partitioning a hard drive." There are situations where you might want to use a swap partition, and other situations where it is perfectly okay not to use a swap partition. Like Jjanel commented, your question is like asking: "how should I design my new house?"

You might want to take a few minutes and read the Arch Wiki Swap page, now that you are into Week 2 of your project: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/swap

273 · 12-02-2016, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarpCharacin

But what if I click hibernate and there is no swap partition? I do not plan to reinstall the OS ever. Arch is a rolling release distro and that is one of the main reasons I am going with it. I am going to build a NAS and I will be storing most of my files there. So the arch team says to not have a swap partition?

If you try to hibernate without swap it will fail, gracefully from what I recall. If you decide you want to hobernate then create a 64GB file and mount it as swap before you do -- it's that quick and easy (I know, I've done it) though hibernate can be troublesome under Linux (as it can under Windows).

CarpCharacin · 12-02-2016, 04:48 PM

I did read the swap page and it said that it is just reccomended for users with less than 1gb of ram. I have 64gb of ram.

CarpCharacin · 12-14-2016, 01:46 PM

So should I do no swap or 4gb of swap?

CarpCharacin · 12-14-2016, 02:49 PM

I actually may go with ubuntu gnome instead because of the package manager.

EDIT: I have decided that I am going with arch after all. So would a 4gb swap partition be ok?

jefro · 12-14-2016, 06:51 PM

I didn't exactly get this.

"there is no swap partition? I do not plan to reinstall the OS ever."

Swap isn't terrible. Having it is better than not in many cases. How bad it might affect a ssd is unknown. I feel ssd's are still subject to failing like the many LED bulbs I have replaced before 20 years claimed.

You could install a small mechanical drive just for swap and even consider using it for backups.

CarpCharacin · 12-14-2016, 06:59 PM

Wait, so swap partitions are bad for SSDs?

szboardstretcher · 12-14-2016, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarpCharacin

Wait, so swap partitions are bad for SSDs?

Says who? We use SSD's as write cache and ZFS zil/log drives just fine.

Swap should be no different and is usually less intensive than write cache.

CarpCharacin · 12-14-2016, 07:39 PM

I don't want my SSD to fail.

273 · 12-15-2016, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarpCharacin

So should I do no swap or 4gb of swap?

In my opinion having 4GB of swap when you have 64GB of RAM is pointless as if you're in a position to use swap then you've probably got a memory leak or something similar to worry about and 4GB won't give you that much help over the 64GB.
As I mentioned if you do want to hedge your bets then set up a swap file, of whichever size you see fit, then run the system with "typical high" workloads and see for yourself whether you get any benefits.