[CentOS] Swap memory: I can't reconcile this stuff.

[Sam Drinkard]

Kai Schaetzl wrote:

>William L. Maltby wrote on Mon, 05 Jun 2006 18:45:10 -0400:
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>>24729  127m  32m  15m  4.3  94m evolution
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>It looks to me like top is using a different definition of swap. If you 
>compare you see that SWAP shows the difference between VIRT and RES almost 
>exactly. However, if there is no or almost no swap usage how can there be 
>a difference? Only explanation: it shows what *could* be swapped 
>immediately without affecting current activity. 
>Have you tried making it heavily swap and then checked if you see a 
>difference (whichever)? Theoretically, it shouldn't make a difference as 
>it doesn't seem to differentiate between "swapped" and "really swapped".
>
>Kai
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Kai,

    I think you hit the nail on the head.  According to man ps, the swap 
size shown by ps is exactly what you say.. the amount of memory it would 
take if the process were swapped out.