Solution: How to enhance or increase RAM with virtual RAM using Linux Swap Partition on Android Devices
by: Revengsky Joseph D. Reyes (a.k.a rjdreyes – jcyberinux.com)

Attention: For root users of Android devices only! Use this application on your own risk.

An internet connection may require on downloading other applications via Google Play Store. (For Android ICS 4.0 to 4.1 devices, click here to root your devices) – Please read!!!

Requirements:
Rooted Android Devices (Smartphone/Tablet) – (how to click here)
Partition external SDCARD (Micro SD card) – (how to click here)
Android Terminal Emulator
Swapper 2 for Root Users

1. ROOT your Android Device as mentioned on the requirements (skip this if you already root your device, otherwise, click here).

2. You must have a Linux Swap Partition (which is much better than a swap file created on the SD card). To be able to create Linux Swap Partition you must use MiniTool Partition Wizard Home Edition (Free) – skip this part if you already achieve this, otherwise, click here to know how to use the software and make partition.

3. After you attain process 1 and 2, you need an Android Terminal Emulator (available and free via Google Play Store, if you don’t have yet then click here).

4. Launch Android Terminal Emulator, try to type the command on the terminal:

busybox free then press enter key.

As you can see, the swap (linux swap partition) still haven’t activated. It has 0 values on its fields.

Type on the terminal: cd /dev/block then press enter key.

Type: ls then press enter key.

Look into the folders such as (mmcblk0, mmcblk1, etc…)

For example: if you have mmcblk0 —> this would be your entire block of external SD card. mmcblk0p1, mmcblk0p2, mmcblk0p3 –> are the partition space that you created earlier.

How to determine which is the linux swap partition? Determining the linux swap partition would be critical, you may mistake it as the first one or the other. It is how you partition your Micro SD card. If you follow my step on how to partition Micro SD card via Minitool. then more possible you put it at the end of the partition space (let’s say mmcblk0p3, see my example presentation above).

5. If you already determine the linux swap partition, it’s time to mount the swap partition. To do that, you need a following tool, Swapper 2 for Root users (available and free via Google Play Store, if you don’t have yet then click here).

6. Launch the Swapper 2 for Root users after you install it, go to Settings.

Check/Enable the Run swapper at startup, then Safe Unmount and the Safe Remount. (Note: If you don’t want to show large ads, you can just check/enable Show small ads)

Go to Advanced preferences, Check/Enable Use swap partition. Then press/tap on Swap partition.

From here, type the location of your linux swap partition. (As mentioned earlier, about the determining the linux swap partition on your Micro SD card)

In my case, /dev/block/mmcblk0p3 is the location of the swap partition.

7. After all the settings is done, press back (from Swapper 2 Home page), press ON to turn on swap. Reboot your Android Device afterwards.

How to know if it works? Check again on the Android Terminal Emulator, type: busybox free. You will see that the swap has already loaded/mounted.

Cheers! We hope this tip helps you out! 😀

(Note: Tested on Samsung Galaxy SII, Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V, and Sony Xperia Sola, it may work also on other Sony Xperia and Android Smartphones, but still I’m not sure about it. Just see for yourself, if you own one.)

(Disclosure: Sony(Sony Xperia Sola, Neo V), Samsung(Galaxy S2) and Android OS, Applications Logo/Images/Pictures has a respective copyright. I used it for demonstration purpose only.)

Related Links / Articles / Entries / References / Sources:
Unroot and Root any Android OS 4.0 to Android OS 4.1 Devices
How to Partition Micro SD Card solved by MiniTool Software
Android Terminal Emulator command line app on Android Devices
Swapper 2 for Root users, to increase RAM on Android Devices
MiniTool Partition Wizard Home Edition – Download – Official Site
Android Terminal Emulator – Jack Palevich – Official Google Play Store
Swapper 2 for Root users – Elviss Kuštans – Official Google Play Store

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