# \[SWAP\] Simple method to install a Swap file
**URL:** https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/swap-simple-method-to-install-a-swap-file/5126
**Category:** Tutorials
**Tags:** tinkering
**Created:** [January 10, 2020, 8:59pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/swap-simple-method-to-install-a-swap-file/5126 "2020-01-10T20:59:51Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@lasvegas](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/lasvegas)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2020, 8:59pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/swap-simple-method-to-install-a-swap-file/5126/1 "2020-01-10T20:59:51Z")
A swap file can be very handy in the GameShell, especially when compiling new games… I’m still fairly new to Linux. I was considering adding a swap partition, but remembering the hassle when expanding the partition in CW 1.0, I decided that a swap file would be the simpler and safer route to go. A little research resulted in the following procedure:
1. Create an empty file (1K \* 1M = 1GiB).
```auto
sudo mkdir -v /var/cache/swap
cd /var/cache/swap
sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=swapfile bs=1K count=1M
sudo chmod 600 swapfile
```
1. Convert newly created file into a swap space file.
```auto
sudo mkswap swapfile
```
1. Enable file for paging and swapping.
```auto
sudo swapon swapfile
```
Verify by: `swapon -s` or `top` :
```auto
top -bn1 | grep -i swap
```
Should display line like: `MiB Swap: 1024.0 total, 1024.0 free` To disable, use `sudo swapoff swapfile` command.
1. Add it into `fstab` file to make it persistent on the next system boot.
```auto
echo "/var/cache/swap/swapfile none swap sw 0 0" | sudo tee -a /etc/fstab
```
1. Re-test swap file on startup by:
```auto
sudo swapoff swapfile
sudo swapon -va
```
Note: This procedure was taken directly from the [AskUbuntu.com](https://askubuntu.com/questions/33697/how-do-i-add-swap-after-system-installation).
Shutdown and Restart now take a little longer… It’s not really a problem for me.
---
### Author:  [@javelinface](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/javelinface)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2020, 9:56pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/swap-simple-method-to-install-a-swap-file/5126/2 "2020-01-10T21:56:06Z")
Thank you so much for this!! This is a much needed tutorial that anyone compiling things should be aware of, especially when say, rebuilding Retroarch. No longer will we need to reduce the -j4 jobs down to two!
I’d be happy to have this almost as standard. Or even have a scripted toggle in settings to enable/disable the swap file.
Also haha I had no idea you were new to Linux. I just assumed you were a coder. Thanks again! I am bookmarking this!
---
### Author:  [@lasvegas](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/lasvegas)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2020, 10:05pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/swap-simple-method-to-install-a-swap-file/5126/3 "2020-01-10T22:05:52Z")
Hehe… I was a coder for Mac OS. I have a fair amount of experience with Darwin, Apple’s variant of Unix; Very similar, but not quite Linux. It does make it easier for me to understand what I’m dealing with, but crippling when I expect something to work the same…
---
### Author:  [@adcockm](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/adcockm)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2020, 12:16am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/swap-simple-method-to-install-a-swap-file/5126/4 "2020-01-11T00:16:18Z")
Cool, thanks for this, @lasvegas!
Since I wasn’t sure about having the swap on all the time, I created four tiny scripts based on your instructions. I’ll share here in case anyone wants similar reusable tools. (Your step 5 would only work if in that same swap directory from before.)
swapsetup.sh (only run once)
> sudo mkdir -v /var/cache/swap
> cd /var/cache/swap
> sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=swapfile bs=1K count=1M
> sudo chmod 600 swapfile
> sudo mkswap swapfile
> sudo swapon swapfile
> top -bn1 | grep -i swap
swapon.sh (to turn on)
> sudo swapon /var/cache/swap/swapfile
swapoff.sh (to turn off)
> sudo swapoff /var/cache/swap/swapfile
swapcheck.sh (to see if/how much in use)
> top -bn1 | grep -i swap
---
### Author:  [@r043v](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/r043v)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2020, 12:54am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/swap-simple-method-to-install-a-swap-file/5126/5 "2020-01-11T00:54:58Z")
have a 512MB file is enough for big compile like retroarch/kernel/mesa/mupen
swap files can be show using _swapon --show_, and file creation by using _fallocate_ command
i personally directly put the swap file in /
here is on / off oneliner :
> `sudo su - -c "fallocate -l 512M /swap && chmod 600 /swap && mkswap /swap && swapon /swap" && swapon --show`
> `sudo su - -c "swapoff /swap && rm -f /swap"`
arch port directly include an enabled 512MB swap file
we may have a look at [Zswap](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Zswap) to save a bit our sd cards life
---
### Author:  [@shell](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/shell)
#### Post date: [January 14, 2020, 6:09am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/swap-simple-method-to-install-a-swap-file/5126/6 "2020-01-14T06:09:42Z")
```auto
sudo apt-get install dphys-swapfile
```
```auto
sudo vim /etc/dphys-swapfile
```
set CONF\_SWAPSIZE to the value you want
```auto
sudo systemctl restart dphys-swapfile
```