Richard,

Since you will increase your total virtual memory and you have enough
swap space now, you can leave the swap partition unchanged. You could
probably reduce the size of your swap partition.

You should size the swap partition based on the anticipted demand on
virtual memory.

I manage a NetBSD 1.3.3 server with a swap partition that is the same size
as physical memory. Since I have 128 MB for both, the total of 256 MB is
quite sufficient.

By the way, the NetBSD at home uses the 'recommended' sizes; it has 8 MB
of physical memory and 32 MB of swap space (it's a 386SX 25 MHz, NetBSD is
on a 250 MB disk :-).

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A few questions for the list.

1) Does the system on the boot floppy use any swap space at all?

2) Is there a lower limit on swap space for normal systems? The boot
   floppy may have an unusual system.

3) Is there a document out there with more intelligent quidelines than
   'four times physical memory'?

Thanks.

On Sat, 4 Sep 1999, Richard Rauch wrote:
> I currently have a default-sized swap partition (i.e., 4x my physical
> memory).  I am thinking of dropping in some more memory---which should
> give me more than 4x my current memory.  (I don't need that much memory,
> but if I'm going to upgrade, I might as well put in ``enough'' to last a
> while.)
> 
> My understanding is that total virtual memory is essentially equal to
> physical RAM + swap-size.  Correct?  And, although a swap-size of approx.
> 4x physical memory is recommended, there's no particular condition on the
> size of the swap paritition.  Correct?

--------------------
Claude Marinier, Information Technology Group    claude.marinier@dreo.dnd.ca 
Defence Research Establishment Ottawa (DREO)    (613) 998-4901  FAX 998-2675
3701 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0Z4         http://www.dreo.dnd.ca