zswap vs zram

sniper-kun_2 · 2024-09-11 14:02:36

Hello there, what do you fine gents prefer/is more suitable to your needs between swap+zswap or zram? I'm currently using zram via systemd-zram-generator but it's mostly because this laptop only got 64GB of storage so I need all the space I can get out of this thing. Lemme see what you guys use (I know a lot of people don't bother with swap stuff but I do)

Some useful resources:
https://wiki.debian.org/Zswap
https://wiki.debian.org/ZRam
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Zswap
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Zram
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Zswap
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Zram
https://docs.kernel.org/admin-guide/mm/zswap.html
https://docs.kernel.org/admin-guide/blockdev/zram.html

Can't post links

(activated the links, johnraff)

Last edited by johnraff (2024-09-14 01:45:34)

Sector11 · 2024-09-11 15:51:59

Nope, can't post links until a certain number of posts.

It's a learning who you are period.
I don't use swap.

hhh · 2024-09-11 16:46:39

It's OK, you can still figure the links out. I fixed the first two. I have a swap partition, it barely gets used.

Sector11 · 2024-09-12 20:18:09

hhh wrote:

It's OK, you can still figure the links out. I fixed the first two. I have a swap partition, it barely gets used.

I stopped setting them up as they never get used.

Bearded_Blunder · 2024-09-12 20:40:49

I have swap partitions on my installs, partly to enable hibernation, & partly because I routinely run virtual machines which eat RAM, consequently on most of my installs swap gets at least some use just about as soon as I have everything booted up.

johnraff · 2024-09-13 01:46:01

Bearded_Blunder wrote:

I have swap partitions on my installs... partly because I routinely run virtual machines which eat RAM

Me too. I have 8GB of RAM (used to seem like a lot) which can get used up running a VM along with other work. And as for two VMs at once...

OT/ I like to run an under-powered machine though - make sure BL isn't only for the top-of-the-line machines.

Sector11 · 2024-09-13 12:21:34

Actually I do have a swap partition - 15GB (14.9)
Did not remember it at all but just saw it in gparted.
- 16GB RAM and
- 1TB HDD

Last edited by Sector11 (2024-09-14 21:26:51)

Zepher · 2024-09-13 21:54:23

I suppose it really depends upon how you use your device and it's hardware. I personally haven't used swap for many years but I'm fortunate enough to have mid-higher hardware for desktop and laptop. Having said that, I don't game or run VM's but use my devices for communication, general web stuff and commerce. Again, like nearly anything Linux... It's all about what's right for you.

Bearded_Blunder · 2024-09-13 22:09:05

My other reason for swap is the UPS, I'd rather that hibernated everything in the event of an outage than it forcing a shutdown closing programs & potentially losing unsaved work.

But it's entirely down to how a system is used if you need swap space & how much.

If asked, I always recommend enough for hibernation with laptops though, just so you've the option in the case of low battery.

johnraff · 2024-09-14 01:38:21

Bearded_Blunder wrote:

If asked, I always recommend enough for hibernation with laptops though, just so you've the option in the case of low battery.

Makes sense.

Back to OP though, does anyone have experience or advice about whether to enable zswap or not?
(I'm going to move my swap partition from the hard disk to the ssd one of these days.)

Last edited by johnraff (2024-09-14 01:40:47)

Zepher · 2024-09-14 04:14:47

@johnraff and @OP, it depends upon what the OP's system specs are and how they intend to use their machine. All we know is their storage capacity, nothing else.

Bearded_Blunder · 2024-09-14 12:12:18

johnraff wrote:

Back to OP though, does anyone have experience or advice about whether to enable zswap or not?

Afraid not, I've run across Windows equivalent things, which slowed the system down for no appreciable benefit, so I'm not excited by them.

Can't even give meaningful rule of thumb type answers about swap settings without knowing how much ram the OP's system has though.

sniper-kun_2 · 2024-09-15 20:37:37

I was curious about you guys preference, not asking for myself really.
Personally I find zram to be the most efficient for my needs. On my lower-end laptop with 4GB ram it's pretty much essential (I have Slackware on it and building stuff from SBO can turn it into a turtle) but I use it even on the one with 24GB of ram just to be sure. I haven't experienced any drawbacks in terms of stability and/or performance, au contraire.

johnraff wrote:

Back to OP though, does anyone have experience or advice about whether to enable zswap or not?
(I'm going to move my swap partition from the hard disk to the ssd one of these days.)

I think swap partition + zswap is the way to go nowadays, I say you should try it. Actually I think I'm going to do the same once I reinstall Debian, just to see how it performs and such.

Thank you for making the links in the OP clickable, I wasn't really bothered by it but I wanted you guys to access the resources easily.

johnraff · 2024-09-16 05:57:02

^You should be able to post links now anyway.

#1 2024-09-11 14:02:36

zswap vs zram

#2 2024-09-11 15:51:59

Re: zswap vs zram

#3 2024-09-11 16:46:39

Re: zswap vs zram

#4 2024-09-12 20:18:09

Re: zswap vs zram

#5 2024-09-12 20:40:49

Re: zswap vs zram

#6 2024-09-13 01:46:01

Re: zswap vs zram

#7 2024-09-13 12:21:34

Re: zswap vs zram

#8 2024-09-13 21:54:23

Re: zswap vs zram

#9 2024-09-13 22:09:05

Re: zswap vs zram

#10 2024-09-14 01:38:21

Re: zswap vs zram

#11 2024-09-14 04:14:47

Re: zswap vs zram

#12 2024-09-14 12:12:18

Re: zswap vs zram

#13 2024-09-15 20:37:37

Re: zswap vs zram

#14 2024-09-16 05:57:02

Re: zswap vs zram

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