[Bug 1032322] [NEW] Swap space allocation for large memory systems needs improvement

[Robbie Williamson]

Public bug reported:

The recipe used for automatic swap space allocation during install this
is:

100% 512 200% linux-swap
        $lvmok{ }
        $reusemethod{ }
        method{ swap }
        format{ } .

Where we currently allocate a minimum of 100% of swap (maximum 200%).
The original justification for this is that you need 100% of your memory
to guarantee hibernate works (bug #311299).    However, for servers, we
don't hibernate and often have large amounts of memory installed, i.e.
100's of GB or even TBs, and such a method wastes a lot of disk space.

I propose we do at least 100% (probably a bit more) for machines up to a
certain level of memory (4GB or less.../maybe/ up to 8GB), to ensure
client machines can hibernate.  However after that, we set some sort of
sliding scale approach that maxes out at a reasonable amount for
servers.  Experienced users can always override the settings if they
want.

** Affects: partman-auto (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: Confirmed

** Affects: partman-auto (Ubuntu Precise)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: Confirmed

** Affects: partman-auto (Ubuntu Quantal)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: Confirmed

** Also affects: partman-auto (Ubuntu Quantal)
   Importance: Undecided
       Status: New

** Also affects: partman-auto (Ubuntu Precise)
   Importance: Undecided
       Status: New

** Changed in: partman-auto (Ubuntu Precise)
       Status: New => Confirmed

** Changed in: partman-auto (Ubuntu Quantal)
       Status: New => Confirmed

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1032322

Title:
  Swap space allocation for large memory systems needs improvement

Status in “partman-auto” package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed
Status in “partman-auto” source package in Precise:
  Confirmed
Status in “partman-auto” source package in Quantal:
  Confirmed

Bug description:
  The recipe used for automatic swap space allocation during install
  this is:

  100% 512 200% linux-swap
          $lvmok{ }
          $reusemethod{ }
          method{ swap }
          format{ } .

  Where we currently allocate a minimum of 100% of swap (maximum 200%).
  The original justification for this is that you need 100% of your
  memory to guarantee hibernate works (bug #311299).    However, for
  servers, we don't hibernate and often have large amounts of memory
  installed, i.e. 100's of GB or even TBs, and such a method wastes a
  lot of disk space.

  I propose we do at least 100% (probably a bit more) for machines up to
  a certain level of memory (4GB or less.../maybe/ up to 8GB), to ensure
  client machines can hibernate.  However after that, we set some sort
  of sliding scale approach that maxes out at a reasonable amount for
  servers.  Experienced users can always override the settings if they
  want.

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