NAME

swapon − enable additional device for paging and swapping

SYNOPSIS

/etc/swapon −a
/etc/swapon name ... 

DESCRIPTION

Swapon is used to enable additional devices on which paging and swapping are to take place.  The system begins by swapping and paging on only a single device so that only one disk is required at bootstrap time.  Calls to swapon normally occur in the system multi-user initialization file /etc/rc making all swap devices available, so that the paging and swapping activity is interleaved across several devices. 

Normally, the −a argument is given, causing all devices marked as swap swap devices in /etc/checklist to be made available by using the first field (special file name) to determine which block device to use. The special file name for each swap entry in /etc/checklist must specify a block special file. 

The second form of swapon announces individual block devices to be used for paging and swapping.  These block devices must have been setup at system configuration time.  Name must specify a block special file. 

WARNINGS

There is no way to stop paging and swapping on a device. 

Exercise due caution when enabling swap space on a device that may be unmounted during system operation or removed from the system. 

FILES

/dev/dsk/c#d#s#Normal paging devices. 

AUTHOR

Swapon was developed by the University of California, Berkeley. 

SEE ALSO

swapon(2), checklist(4). 

Hewlett-Packard Company  —  May 11, 2021