How to Increase Linux Swap Memory by Resizing a Swap File

Checking Current Swap

• 🔍 Check current swap status using free -h or swapon -s to see existing swap file size and location.
• 💡 The video demonstrates resizing an existing 2GB swap file to 4GB, assuming one is already created.

Disabling and Removing Existing Swap

• ⚠️ Turn off the swap file using sudo swapoff /swapfile to disable it.
• 🗑️ Remove the existing swap file with sudo rm /swapfile.
• 📌 Ensure you use the correct path for your swap file if it differs from /swapfile.

Creating and Configuring a New Swap File

• 🚀 Create a new, larger swap file (e.g., 4GB) using sudo fallocate -l 4G /swapfile.
• 🔒 Set secure permissions for the swap file with sudo chmod 600 /swapfile, ensuring only the administrator has read/write access.
• 🛠️ Format the new swap file as swap space using sudo mkswap /swapfile.
• ✅ Activate the new swap file immediately with sudo swapon /swapfile.

Verifying and Making Swap Persistent

• 📊 Verify the new swap size and status using swapon -s or free -h to confirm it's active and shows the correct size.
• 🔄 Make the swap file persistent across reboots by editing /etc/fstab.
• 📝 Add the line /swapfile none swap sw 0 0 to the end of /etc/fstab to ensure the swap file is mounted automatically after restarting the system.