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Linux swap proposals target inefficient ties between cache slots and swap files

lwn.net by corbet Editor score 7/10

The swap layer still ties swap-cache slots directly to space in persistent swap files, which can waste resources; two competing fixes remain under discussion. The trade-offs matter to engineers working on kernel memory and storage behavior.

What

- Linux swap slots are directly tied to space in persistent swap files, a longstanding problem not yet solved in mainline.

How

- That tie can cause highly inefficient resource use; two competing proposed solutions are not ready to merge, and discussion continues.

Why it matters

- Engineers working on kernel memory management must weigh competing approaches to reducing swap-resource inefficiency.

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