I’m attempting a new install. I want to use btrfs with swapfile.

Do I need to disable compression on my swap subvolume?

Is there anything else I should keep in mind for fstab if I want to, say, not keep track of my Downloads folder when snapshotting?

Here is my fstab:

LABEL=arch@btrfs        /               btrfs           rw,relatime,discard=async,space_cache=v2,subvolid=256,subvol=>

LABEL=arch@btrfs        /home           btrfs           rw,relatime,discard=async,space_cache=v2,subvolid=257,subvol=>

LABEL=arch@btrfs        /var/cache/pacman/pkg   btrfs           rw,relatime,discard=async,space_cache=v2,subvolid=259>

LABEL=arch@btrfs        /var/log        btrfs           rw,relatime,discard=async,space_cache=v2,subvolid=258,subvol=>

LABEL=arch@btrfs        /.snapshots     btrfs           rw,relatime,discard=async,space_cache=v2,subvolid=260,subvol=>

LABEL=arch@btrfs        /swap           btrfs           rw,relatime,discard=async,space_cache=v2,subvolid=263,subvol=>

LABEL=efi@fat32         /efi            vfat            rw,relatime,fmask=0022,dmask=0022,codepage=437,iocharset=asci>

/swap/swapfile          none            swap            defaults        0 0
  • M500@lemmy.mlEnglish
    1·
    9 months ago

    Are you sure you can use a swap file with btrfs? I did not think you could do that. Maybe I was on old software last time I tried.

      • Atemu@lemmy.ml
        41·
        9 months ago

        I’d highly recommend setting up a swap partition instead.

          • recursive_recursion [they/them]@programming.devEnglish
            2·
            9 months ago

            As swap is recommended just in case all RAM is maxed it’s better to have a swap partition as swap files have certain limitations when in combined use with BTRFS:

            • “subvolume - cannot be snapshotted if it contains any active swapfiles”
            • has a chance to fragment
            • has issues with hibernation (that I’ve personally encountered multiple times)

            here’s the link for more info: https://man.archlinux.org/man/btrfs.5#SWAPFILE_SUPPORT

            after switching to a swap partition with BTRFS I’ve experienced no issues for a user configuration

            • Actual@programming.devOPEnglish
              1·
              9 months ago

              “subvolume - cannot be snapshotted if it contains any active swapfiles”

              Make a subvolume only for the swapfile.

              has a chance to fragment

              This is true for all files. Is it a bigger problem for swap?

              has issues with hibernation (that I’ve personally encountered multiple times)

              This one I can’t refute. How long ago did you have these issues?