5.3. Removing Swap Space

5.3. Removing Swap Space

Sometimes it can be prudent to reduce swap space after installation. For example, say you downgraded the amount of RAM in your system from 1 GB to 512 MB, but there is 2 GB of swap space still assigned. It might be advantageous to reduce the amount of swap space to 1 GB, since the larger 2 GB could be wasting disk space.

You have three options: remove an entire LVM2 logical volume used for swap, remove a swap file, or reduce swap space on an existing LVM2 logical volume.

5.3.1. Reducing Swap on an LVM2 Logical Volume

To reduce an LVM2 swap logical volume (assuming /dev/VolGroup00/LogVol01 is the volume you want to extend):

Disable swapping for the associated logical volume:
```
# swapoff -v /dev/VolGroup00/LogVol01
```

Reduce the LVM2 logical volume by 512 MB:

# lvm lvreduce /dev/VolGroup00/LogVol01 -L -512M

Format the new swap space:
```
# mkswap /dev/VolGroup00/LogVol01
```
Enable the extended logical volume:
```
# swapon -va
```
Test that the logical volume has been reduced properly:
```
# cat /proc/swaps # free
```