The swap file name is removed so that it is no longer available for swapping. The file itself is not deleted. Edit the /etc/vfstab file and delete the entry for the swap file. Recover the disk space so that you can use it for something else.
Table of Contents
Is it safe to delete Linux swap?
It’s possible to configure Linux to not use the swap file, but it will run much less well. Simply deleting it will probably crash your machine — and the system will then recreate it on reboot anyway. Don’t delete it. A swapfile fills the same function on linux that a pagefile does in Windows.
Can I delete swap?
You can not delete a swap file. sudo rm does not delete the file. It “removes” the directory entry. In Unix terminology, it “unlinks” the file.
Can I delete swap file Ubuntu?
Removing a Swap File
- Start by deactivating the swap space by typing: sudo swapoff -v /swapfile.
- Next, remove the swap file entry /swapfile swap swap defaults 0 0 from the /etc/fstab file.
- Finally, remove the actual swapfile file using the rm command: sudo rm /swapfile.
How do I delete a swap file in Terminal?
To remove a swap file:
- At a shell prompt as root, execute the following command to disable the swap file (where /swapfile is the swap file): # swapoff -v /swapfile.
- Remove its entry from the /etc/fstab file.
- Remove the actual file: # rm /swapfile.
How do I permanently disable swap in Linux?
In simple ways or the other step:
- Run swapoff -a: this will immediately disable the swap.
- Remove any swap entry from /etc/fstab.
- Get the system rebooted. Ok, if the swap is gone. …
- Repeat steps 1 and 2 and, after that, use fdisk or parted to delete the (now unused) swap partition.
How do I clear swap memory in Linux without rebooting?
Clear Cached Memory On Linux Without Reboot
- Check available, used, cached memory with this command: …
- Commit any buffers to disk first with following command: …
- Next Let’s send signal now to kernel to flush pagecaches, inodes, and dentries: …
- Check system RAM again.
How do you stop swap?
To clear the swap memory on your system, you simply need to cycle off the swap. This moves all data from swap memory back into RAM. It also means that you need to be sure you have the RAM to support this operation. An easy way to do this is to run ‘free -m’ to see what is being used in swap and in RAM.
Why swap file is created in Linux?
A swap file allows an operating system to use hard disk space to simulate extra memory. When the system runs low on memory, it swaps a section of RAM that an idle program is using onto the hard disk to free up memory for other programs.
How do I swap memory in Ubuntu?
Activating the swap partition
- Pull up a terminal and run gksu gparted & and enter your root password. …
- Right-click on your swap partition and choose *Information*. …
- Run gksu gedit /etc/fstab & and look for the line that has *swap* in it. …
- Save the file.
- Enable the new swap partition with this command.
Does 8GB RAM need swap space?
This took into account the fact that RAM memory sizes were typically quite small, and allocating more than 2X RAM for swap space did not improve performance.
…
What’s the right amount of swap space?
| Amount of RAM installed in system | Recommended swap space | Recommended swap space with hibernation |
|---|---|---|
| 2GB – 8GB | = RAM | 2X RAM |
| 8GB – 64GB | 4G to 0.5X RAM | 1.5X RAM |
How do you delete a file in Linux?
How to Remove Files
- To delete a single file, use the rm or unlink command followed by the file name: unlink filename rm filename. …
- To delete multiple files at once, use the rm command followed by the file names separated by space. …
- Use the rm with the -i option to confirm each file before deleting it: rm -i filename(s)