View Full Version : What is a "swapfile"?
About2SwitchOvr
May 23, 2004, 05:57 PM
I was looking through the Hard Drive.. and saw 4 of these files..
I added the pdf to this.. anyone offer any insight?
rainman::|:|
May 23, 2004, 06:43 PM
the short answer is that swapfiles are the place where virtual memory is stored, it's referenced in pageins/pageouts. In general, the system takes care of virtual memory, although it's a bit complicated you can move the file to another disk, for instance.
paul
About2SwitchOvr
May 23, 2004, 08:06 PM
the short answer is that swapfiles are the place where virtual memory is stored, it's referenced in pageins/pageouts. In general, the system takes care of virtual memory, although it's a bit complicated you can move the file to another disk, for instance.
paul
I can move it... but I can't/shouldn't delete it.. correct? I saw about 4... which seems to get bigger and bigger...
kenkooler
May 23, 2004, 11:42 PM
I can move it... but I can't/shouldn't delete it.. correct? I saw about 4... which seems to get bigger and bigger...
Correct, those files will be erased after a restart or when the memory is freed.
About2SwitchOvr
May 24, 2004, 03:58 PM
Correct, those files will be erased after a restart or when the memory is freed.
Thanks Kenkooler, for your input. Greatly appreciated...
While on the topic of memory..
Even if I had... say.. 1 gig, compared to the 768 I have now...The amount of memory (percentage) that I have... should be the same in either situations.. if I'm running the same programs.. no?
Currently. I run mainly Excel, Adium, have iTunes in the background, Safari, and watch EyeTv at the same time and that always leaves about 10-12 mbs free... Even if I had a gig, it would still end up somewhere near there because the longer the programs are up and running, it's consuming memory..
Is this assumption a correct/accurate one?
IJ Reilly
May 24, 2004, 05:01 PM
Correct, those files will be erased after a restart or when the memory is freed.
Some will be deleted after logging out, but all will only be deleted after a restart. They don't go away (unfortunately) just because they aren't needed.
Spock
May 24, 2004, 05:39 PM
You can slso put Your swap file on a partition but I forgot how. I heard it is better that way.
vBulletin® v3.8.6, Copyright ©2000-2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.