Introduction to UNIX: basic concepts : UNIX design : Virtual memory
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3.2. Virtual memory

On UNIX, the total memory is composed of the physical memory + an on-disk area, commonly called "swap" -- this together represents virtual memory.

Programs can address the total amount of memory in the system (T = Physical + Virtual). The swap is usually 2 x the amount of physical RAM in the system.


Introduction to UNIX: basic concepts : UNIX design : Virtual memory
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Next: Multi-user