Solaris add a new swap file for database

I am running out of swap space due to the Oracle database. It is a production server. How do I add a new swap file or area that doesn’t demand a reboot system?

Sun Solaris UNIX offers a straightforward way to add a swap file/partition on the fly without rebooting the Solaris system.

Solaris add a new swap file for database

First, login as the root user. For example:
$ su -
Type the following command to create swap file. It creates file that are suitable for use as NFS- mounted swap areas.
# mkfile -v 2g tmp-swap.file
Where,

• -v : Report the names and sizes of created files (verbose)
• 2g : 2Gbyte file size.

Now turn on or add the new swap file to the Solaris UNIX swap area:
# swap -a tmp-swap.file
The swap command provides a method of adding, deleting, and monitoring the system swap areas used by the memory manager. This will do the job. Verify it:
# swap -l
OR
# swap -s
Please note that this swap file is slow as compare to your regular raw swap device.

Solaris add swap space in ZFS root setup

List all swap spaces:
# swap -l
# swap -s
Create a new swap space with 4GiB size:
# zfs create -V 4G tank/myswap2
Let us activate it:
# swap -a /dev/zvol/dsk/tank/myswap2
# swap -l
# swap -s
Finally, add an entry for swap volume in the /etc/vfstab file as follows:
# vi /etc/vfstab
Append/edit as follows:

/dev/zvol/dsk/tank/myswap2    -        -       swap    -       no      -

Save and close the file.

Conclusion

You learned how to add a new swap file for a database server or any other purpose on Oracle/Sun Solaris Unix operating system using the command-line options. For futher information refer to man pages of swap and mkfile command.
$ man mkfile
$ man swap

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