5 ms·

Also, this seems to be based on a email from 2005, about kernel version 2.4 and 2.6, and their differences. Things might have changed since then, and also depen

Also, this seems to be based on a email from 2005, about kernel version 2.4 and 2.6, and their differences. Things might have changed since then, and also depends on a lot of factors, not the least what filesystem you use. I'm not sure people should seriously follow advice that basically boils down to "do this always it's best". Better instead to make yourself informed about the tradeoffs, then make your own choice, for your setup.

rddbs 5d ago
Just because there might exist tradeoffs doesn’t make them matter to someone. If you’re using a Linux distro then you’re already living off thousands of decisions made with tradeoffs and it’s hardly feasible to be informed or care about all of them.
jenders 5d ago
This recommendation is based off the current implementation. See: https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/827751b699b79a6e569983359c02dce67f81b94c/mm/swapfile.c#L2934 https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/827751b699b79a6e56998... https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/827751b699b79a6e569983359c02dce67f81b94c/include/linux/swap.h#L183 https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/827751b699b79a6e56998... The thread is quoted to show that they have been functionally equivalent for several decades and yet distros continue to push outdated recommendations.
- embedding-shape 4d ago
  > yet distros continue to push outdated recommendations Is it possible perhaps that this advice doesn't apply equally to all situations? Is it the best for people on ZFS? Is it the best for distributions that have their own kernels builds? I'm not saying it's a bad default, or that people should avoid it, just that it's likely not "the absolute best no questions asked" regardless of the situation, that was what I was trying to point out with my previous comment.

5 ms·

Also, this seems to be based on a email from 2005, about kernel version 2.4 and 2.6, and their differences. Things might have changed since then, and also depen

by embedding-shape 5d ago

rddbs 5d ago
Just because there might exist tradeoffs doesn’t make them matter to someone. If you’re using a Linux distro then you’re already living off thousands of decisions made with tradeoffs and it’s hardly feasible to be informed or care about all of them.
jenders 5d ago
This recommendation is based off the current implementation. See: https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/827751b699b79a6e569983359c02dce67f81b94c/mm/swapfile.c#L2934 https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/827751b699b79a6e56998... https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/827751b699b79a6e569983359c02dce67f81b94c/include/linux/swap.h#L183 https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/827751b699b79a6e56998... The thread is quoted to show that they have been functionally equivalent for several decades and yet distros continue to push outdated recommendations.
- embedding-shape 4d ago
  > yet distros continue to push outdated recommendations Is it possible perhaps that this advice doesn't apply equally to all situations? Is it the best for people on ZFS? Is it the best for distributions that have their own kernels builds? I'm not saying it's a bad default, or that people should avoid it, just that it's likely not "the absolute best no questions asked" regardless of the situation, that was what I was trying to point out with my previous comment.