>>>> I read on this list that the kernel needs *some* swap, even just a >>>> tiny amount, to function properly. Is that true? If so, do you think >>>> it would be OK to put this tiny amount of swap on a cheap SSD? >>> >>> I have no swap and things work just fine. (8 gigs of RAM) >>> >>> Obviously, running without swap increases the chances of you running >>> out of memory, but that has never happened to me. >> >> I've been setting up all of my systems according to this, creating a >> 512MB swap partition: >> >> http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/handbook-amd64.xml?part=1&chap=4 >> >> If I have 4GB RAM, all I'm accomplishing with swap is increasing this >> to 4.5GB? If my system requires 4.6GB at some point, I'm in the same >> position I would be in if I had no swap and 4.1GB requirement? > > As far as I understand it, correct.
What have you guys found to be the minimum RAM necessary for a Gentoo system without swap that doesn't lock up? My laptop has 1GB RAM and 512MB swap, and when I disabled the swap the system locked up during the first big emerge. I guess that means I need somewhere between 1GB and 1.5GB. I'd say it's a pretty normal laptop/workstation. - Grant
