mueller@daisy.cis.ohio-state.edu (klaus d mueller) (06/13/91)
Someone knows ??
I'm having problems with my swap space being too small. So I thought about
creating a big file and using SWAPON <file name> to add this file to my swap
space. Will this create a problem when the file is not written in contiguous
blocks ?
OR
Is there a way to divide an existing partition into two pieces without
having to re-format the entire hard disk ?
I have a DECStation 3100 running ULTRIX version 3. Thank's for your help.
Cheers Klaus@lvd1.bme.ohio-state.edu boyd@prl.dec.com (Boyd Roberts) (06/13/91)
In article <133933@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu>, mueller@daisy.cis.ohio-state.edu (klaus d mueller) writes: > I'm having problems with my swap space being too small. So I thought about > creating a big file and using SWAPON <file name> to add this file to my swap > space. Will this create a problem when the file is not written in contiguous > blocks ? No, you can't do that. The `file' argument is _not_ an ordinary file. It's a block special file refering to (part of) an unused disk partition. It is just a chunk of disk, there is no file-system structure on it. You have to create (or find) a spare partition, configure it into the kernel and then use `swapon' to make it available to the kernel for paging. To quote from then swapon(8) manual: The second form gives individual _block devices_, as listed in the system swap configuration table. The call makes only this space available to the system for swap allocation. [emphasis added] Be careful when you configure this. A mis-configured swap partition is a sure-fire file-system trasher, faster than you can say `backups?'. Boyd Roberts boyd@prl.dec.com ``When the going gets wierd, the weird turn pro...''
kevink@bryant.NCD.COM (Kevin Kelleher) (06/15/91)
In article <1991Jun13.165603.6240@prl.dec.com>, boyd@prl.dec.com (Boyd Roberts) writes: |> In article <133933@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu>, mueller@daisy.cis.ohio-state.edu (klaus d mueller) writes: |> > I'm having problems with my swap space being too small. So I thought about |> > creating a big file and using SWAPON <file name> to add this file to my swap |> > space. Will this create a problem when the file is not written in contiguous |> > blocks ? |> |> No, you can't do that. The `file' argument is _not_ an ordinary file. |> It's a block special file refering to (part of) an unused disk partition. |> It is just a chunk of disk, there is no file-system structure on it. |> |> You have to create (or find) a spare partition, configure it into the |> kernel and then use `swapon' to make it available to the kernel for paging. |> |> To quote from then swapon(8) manual: |> |> The second form gives individual _block devices_, as listed in |> the system swap configuration table. The call makes only |> this space available to the system for swap allocation. SWAPON <file name> where 'file name' is a large ordinary file works for SunOS and possibly other flavors of Unix(tm). It would sure be nice if DEC would consider this for a future release. Disclaimer: These are my opinions only, not my employeers. Kevin Kelleher kevink@ncd.com Network Computing Devices (NCD) (415) 691-2593
yzarn@lhdsy1.chevron.com (Philip Yzarn de Louraille) (06/15/91)
In article <133933@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu> mueller@daisy.cis.ohio-state.edu (klaus d mueller) writes: >Someone knows ?? > >I'm having problems with my swap space being too small. So I thought about >creating a big file and using SWAPON <file name> to add this file to my swap >space. Will this create a problem when the file is not written in contiguous >blocks ? > >OR > >Is there a way to divide an existing partition into two pieces without >having to re-format the entire hard disk ? > >I have a DECStation 3100 running ULTRIX version 3. Thank's for your help. If you have a partition on your disk that you are not using, then add it to the swap space by modifying the /sys/mips/config/HOSTNAME configuration file: config vmunix root on rz0a swap on rz0b modify to config vmunix root on rz0a swap on rz0b and rz0? where ? is your "free" partition. Actually, if you have more than one disk, you can also do config vmunix root on rz0a swap on rz0b and rz#? where # is the scsi address number and ? the partition you want to use. -- Philip Yzarn de Louraille Internet: yzarn@chevron.com Research Support Division Unix & Open Systems Chevron Information & Technology Co. Tel: (213) 694-9232 P.O. Box 446, La Habra, CA 90633-0446 Fax: (213) 694-7709