Zswap Makes Swap Go Zoom

Linux kernel features zswap and zram both provide a compressed storage area in RAM for swap memory. But each takes a very different approach to achieve a fast(er) swap. Start Here Configure the Bootloader ZBM GRUB Verify Cmdline Dmesg Parameters Statistics Troubleshooting Resources Start Here The most apparent difference between the two approaches to swap management are that while zswap works in tandem with a swapfile or swap partition, zram does not require a backing swap device. So zram all the way, right? At least I thought so. I've used zram in the past to keep swap contents in speedy RAM vs not-as-speedy-storage, but after reading this comprehensive debunking of zswap and zram myths I've switched to zswap on my machines. Different bootloaders initiate zswap differently. For the purposes of this HOWTO I profile two systems, each with a different bootloader: a Void Linux desktop using ZFSBootMenu (ZBM), and a Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) laptop using GRUB. Both systems were…