- This topic has 21 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated May 11-5:22 pm by RJP.
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RJP
Encryption consumes CPU-time and memory, so it is a vicious circle if computer swapping trying to encrypt swap.
- This reply was modified 16 hours, 40 minutes ago by RJP.
PPC
I followed the instructions you posted, and the system keeps freezing when it starts swapping
I assume you did read my post that mentioned that probably current Linux Kernels do not work well with encrypted swap files, and that if you wanted encrypted swap it would be advisable to use a swap partition, not a swap file? Did you try using a swap partition? If so, does the problem persist?
P.
Xunzi_23
Maybe always running shred command from an alias on your swapfile before leaving the system unattended and before shutdown
would be an option. You could call the action from an icon in taskbar easily.Even swapping to volatile memory such as ram is not completely risk free, with an expert around, he might
freeze the system to preserve data. Sounds like he needs a short sharp kick in the right place to calm him down….BobC
Based on the replies, I think your best solution is to run very light apps and not need any swap to worry about.
Swapping is inherently slow. Encrypting anything will make it even slower. You don’t have a rocket fast machine. Use sudo ps_mem.py to analyze what you are running and try to find lighter solutions that are acceptable.
Brian Masinick
Based on the replies, I think your best solution is to run very light apps and not need any swap to worry about.
Swapping is inherently slow. Encrypting anything will make it even slower. You don’t have a rocket fast machine. Use sudo ps_mem.py to analyze what you are running and try to find lighter solutions that are acceptable.
I agree with you Bob. For as long as I can remember, I’ve rarely had to actually use swap.
Once a long time ago I had a Dell Dimension 4100 desktop computer. When it was new around 2000 it was a capable system, and it certainly was reliable because I got close to a decade of use out of it. I do remember that if I ran the KDE desktop as it aged, it would gracefully swap, and it’d only allow one or two apps active, particularly if a memory consuming Web browser was running. That’s when I probably used antiX most; it worked fantastic on that old desktop, and of course I’ve continued to use antiX, as I am right now…
Since that old desktop I’ve never seen swap in active use since… at least not on any of MY systems!
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Brian MasinickI looked at the inxi and the PC has 3.16 gb of memory. Has it got 2 x 2 gb chips? If not, adding a 2nd 2 gb chip might be a cheap way to reduce swapping. Another opportunity to improve swapping performance would be to upgrade to a fast SSD instead of the 7200 RPM HD.
If not then make do. Find out which programs are using the largest chunks of memory and substitute lighter alternatives as much as possible.
Encrypted swapping on an old PC is going to be quite slow. Slow because it is swapping out and in to a HD at all. And slower because it needs to encrypt it before it goes out, and even slower because it needs to decrypt before it comes back in.
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