Linux kernel dispute over swap slots and persistent swap files
Two competing proposals address the link between swap cache slots and space in persistent swap files in the Linux kernel, with no agreement yet for mainline integration.
This item is an automatic translation of content published in the LWN feed, dated 8 October 2026. According to the source, the kernel's swap layer has undergone significant changes over the past year and several old problems have been resolved. A problem still open in mainline is the direct link between slots in the swap cache and space in persistent swap files, which can cause highly inefficient use of resources. There are two competing solutions, neither ready for integration, and a long discussion shows continued disagreement about the best approach.
The relevance for infrastructure teams is indirect: memory and swap behavior affects the capacity and latency of Linux servers, including those running AI workloads. Rota Nacional does not work on the kernel and does not solve this engineering problem. If you use an AI assistant to study the topic, read the original text and avoid pasting logs, machine names or configurations containing identifiers.