ECS: How to increase the swap space on an ECS node

IMPORTANT! A new feature has been released in xDoctor 4-8.104.0 and later. This knowledge base (KB) article is now automated with xDoctor AutoPilot addressing most issues without the need for support involvement.

This feature is native to xDoctor 4-8.104.0 and later. For syntax and usage issues, see ECS: ObjectScale: How to run KB Automation Scripts (Auto Pilot).
 

1. Perform the automation command from a primary node with xDoctor 4-8.104.0 and later.

# sudo xdoctor autopilot --kb 205933 --target-node <NAN IP>
# sudo xdoctor autopilot --kb 205933 --target-rack <Rack Name>
# sudo xdoctor autopilot --kb 205933 --target-vdc <VDC Name>

admin@ecsnode1:~> sudo xdoctor autopilot --kb 205933 --target-node 169.254.1.1
Checking for existing screen sessions...
Starting screen session 'autopilot_kb_205933_20250627_212503'...
Screen session 'autopilot_kb_205933_20250627_212503' started successfully.
Attaching to screen session 'autopilot_kb_205933_20250627_212503'...

2. Review a summary of actions taken.

Example:

TASK [Summary for SWAP and fstab issues addressed] *********************************************************************************************************************************************
Ok: [169.254.1.7] => {
    "msg": [
        "************************************************************************************************************************************************",
        "************************************************************************************************************************************************",
        " An 8GB swap file was created and configured as /swapfile with swap enabled. "
        " fstab was updated with entries for /swapfile, and a backup prior to the change was created in: /etc/fstab.28734.2024-08-28@19:44:38~. ",
        " No duplicate entries were found in fstab. ",
        "************************************************************************************************************************************************",
        "************************************************************************************************************************************************"
    ]
}

4. Confirm to update the Message of the Day (MOTD) with swap details and the changes applied.

Command:
Note: If the current MOTD has the KB number or the word /swapfile in it the MOTD is not updated.

# yes or no

Example:

The next steps are to detect keywords in the MOTD content and update the MOTD with custom content for the KB specifics. IMPORTANT! You need customer permission to do this action for the KB. Would you like to proceed with the steps by typing 'Yes' or 'Y', or skip the MOTD update actions by typing 'No' or 'N':
: y

5. Review the MOTD change summary for adding new MOTD content:

Example:

TASK [MOTD summary] ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
ok: [169.254.1.7] => {
    "msg": [
        "************************************************************************************************************************************************",
        "New MOTD content:",
        "************************************************************************************************************************************************",
        "************************************************************************************************************************************************",
        [
            "",
"==============================================================================================================================================",
            "2024-08-28 | SR#84955203 | KB 186358 has been applied to this system, adding an 8GB swap file to /swapfile. Please reapply if a node has been reimaged."
            "=============================================================================================================================================="
        ],
        "************************************************************************************************************************************************",
        "************************************************************************************************************************************************"
    ]
}

Additional KB article consolidated into this automation:
ECS: xDoctor RAP137 Total swap memory inconsistent across the ECS rack