'
> Spinning up 1 Unicorn worker(s) that were stopped initially
>
> ```
---
### Author:  [@volanar](https://meta.discourse.org/u/volanar)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2025, 8:44pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-keep-getting-errors-when-updating/373634/2 "2025-07-09T20:44:13Z")
You need to make a bigger swap file.
I had the same problem. This solved it
---
### Author:  [@alltiagocom](https://meta.discourse.org/u/alltiagocom)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2025, 8:46pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-keep-getting-errors-when-updating/373634/3 "2025-07-09T20:46:29Z")
Can you explain how to? I’m not familiar with that. I remember someone talking about it, but I don’t think I’ve made any changes (well, apparently I probably didn’t and that’s what’s causing this).
Thank you
---
### Author:  [@pfaffman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/pfaffman)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-keep-getting-errors-when-updating/373634/4 "2025-07-09T20:49:27Z")
I recommend upgrading from the command line
```plaintext
cd /var/discourse
./launcher rebuild app
```
You might still have memory problems. If that fails, include the error and the output of
```plaintext
free -h
```
EDIT: Oops. Sorry, I didn’t read carefully enough:
> [@alltiagocom](#):
>
> I always have to rely on Terminal and that isn’t good, because then I will always have to have my forum down for like 30 minutes.
Add swap is what to do. The way that I do it is
```plaintext
cd /var/discourse
grep swap discourse-setup
```
Then you can see the commands that `discourse-setup` uses to create the swap space.
Then you can do something like
```plaintext
./launcher stop app # if you don't you probably can't turn off swap
swapoff /swapfile # now you found the name of the file was /swapfile
fallocate -l -4GB /swapfile # adjusted from the one in the output
mkswap /swapfile # this "formats" the swap partiion
```
You can skip the other stuff about adding it to fstab and such, and just turn it back on:
```plaintext
swapon /swapfile
./launcher start app
```
Then you can check with
```plaintext
free -h
```
If you have no swap file, then you can run `./discourse-setup` and it’ll add it for you and you can control-c when it starts asking you questions.
---
### Author:  [@volanar](https://meta.discourse.org/u/volanar)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-keep-getting-errors-when-updating/373634/5 "2025-07-09T20:49:39Z")
Use Google or youtube:
“Linux swap file”
---
### Author:  [@merefield](https://meta.discourse.org/u/merefield)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2025, 8:50pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-keep-getting-errors-when-updating/373634/6 "2025-07-09T20:50:49Z")
Here’s Digital Oceans guide:
> **[How To Add Swap Space on Ubuntu | DigitalOcean](https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-add-swap-space-on-ubuntu-20-04)**
>
> Learn how to add swap space on Ubuntu using a swap file, with step-by-step commands, swappiness tuning, troubleshooting, and best practices.
You usually need to add as much swap as you have RAM.
---
### Author:  [@volanar](https://meta.discourse.org/u/volanar)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2025, 8:54pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-keep-getting-errors-when-updating/373634/7 "2025-07-09T20:54:22Z")
> [@alltiagocom](#):
>
> `Node.js heap_size_limit is less than 2048MB`
[https://meta.discourse.org/search?context=topic&context\_id=373634&q=Node.js%20heap\_size\_limit%20is%20less%20than%202048MB&skip\_context=true](https://meta.discourse.org/search?context=topic&context_id=373634&q=Node.js%20heap_size_limit%20is%20less%20than%202048MB&skip_context=true)
> [@Upgrade from 3.2.0.beta3-dev to 3.2.0.beta3 failed due to out of memory](https://meta.discourse.org/t/upgrade-from-3-2-0-beta3-dev-to-3-2-0-beta3-failed-due-to-out-of-memory/286643/20):
>
> I’ve run into a similar rebuild problem today (two container) with a 2GB + 2GB swap setup, for a small site. Expanding it to 2GB + 4GB swap has gotten it over the line this time.
---
### Author:  [@alltiagocom](https://meta.discourse.org/u/alltiagocom)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2025, 9:13pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-keep-getting-errors-when-updating/373634/8 "2025-07-09T21:13:09Z")
Updates
After a few conversations with Claude, here’s what’s happening:
I initially had this
```shell
sudo swapon --show
NAME TYPE SIZE USED PRIO
/swapfile file 2G 1G -2
```
That was still causing the error.
So I was able to increase it to 4GB, I believe:
```shell
sudo swapon --show
NAME TYPE SIZE USED PRIO
/swapfile file 4G 714.4M -2
```
Now, here’s what’s strange: while I was doing this, I went back to the update page and to my surprise, everything was updated…
How is that possible, if it was showing me that error? 😕
Anyway, I now at least understand that a swapfile is related to disk space, not RAM. I’m using DigitalOcean’s droplet 1GB RAM, 25GB disk.
So I guess having the 4GB swapfile is ok for now?
But still, why did it update, even after showing me that error?
---
### Author:  [@pfaffman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/pfaffman)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2025, 10:54pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-keep-getting-errors-when-updating/373634/9 "2025-07-10T22:54:11Z")
> [@alltiagocom](#):
>
> Anyway, I now at least understand that a swapfile is related to disk space, not RAM. I’m using DigitalOcean’s droplet 1GB RAM, 25GB disk.
A swapfile is a way to use some of your disk space as very, very slow RAM, so it’s related to both disk space and RAM.
25GB is just barely enough space. You’ll need to do a `./launcher cleanup` before pretty much every command line upgrade.
---
### Author:  [@alltiagocom](https://meta.discourse.org/u/alltiagocom)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2025, 12:37pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-keep-getting-errors-when-updating/373634/10 "2025-07-11T12:37:47Z")
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> A swapfile is a way to use some of your disk space as very, very slow RAM, so it’s related to both disk space and RAM.
What I meant was that, when I saw discussions about it, when people said “create a 2GB swapfile” I thought it was related to the amount of RAM, so in my case, I would not be able to do it, because I only have 1GB of RAM. Now, I understand that the swapfile, is in fact disk space, almost like creating a small partition. So, yes, they are related, because they “communicate” with each other when necessary, but I was being more literal with my comment.
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> 25GB is just barely enough space.
That’s all I can afford at the moment and since I still have no real community, that’s enough. I will upgrade as the community grows.
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> You’ll need to do a `./launcher cleanup` before pretty much every command line upgrade.
So, you’re saying that before each update, even when using the admin panel to update, I should run `./launcher cleanup` via Terminal?
---
### Author:  [@pfaffman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/pfaffman)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2025, 12:50pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-keep-getting-errors-when-updating/373634/11 "2025-07-11T12:50:50Z")
> [@alltiagocom](#):
>
> before each update, even when using the admin panel to update, I should run `./launcher cleanup` via Terminal?
No. Using the admin panel doesn’t make docker make more images it’s not using, but you may not have enough memory (ram plus swap) to do the upgrade from the admin panel.
---
### Author:  [@alltiagocom](https://meta.discourse.org/u/alltiagocom)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2025, 1:10pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-keep-getting-errors-when-updating/373634/12 "2025-07-11T13:10:31Z")
This is all a bit confusing to me…
Some people said they were having the same issue as me, and creating the 2GB swapfile helped them. I now created the 4GB swapfile, but that was after I updated, so I will have to wait for another update to test it.
So, for example, if I upgrade to 2GB of RAM would that be good enough, even if the disk space is still 25GB?
I’m very new to all this, so I apologize if this is too obvious for most people. I’m just trying to figure things out as I work on it.
---
### Author:  [@merefield](https://meta.discourse.org/u/merefield)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2025, 1:34pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-keep-getting-errors-when-updating/373634/13 "2025-07-11T13:34:05Z")
1GB machine with 4GB swap should be enough.
I would personally recommend at least 2GB with 2GB swap to start with but you meet the published minimum requirements of a [standard install](https://meta.discourse.org/t/142537?silent=true).
I would move on and use it and only upgrade if you find things are too slow.
You should have no problems with memory now.
---
### Author:  [@Jagster](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Jagster)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2025, 6:38pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-keep-getting-errors-when-updating/373634/14 "2025-07-11T18:38:45Z")
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> may not have enough memory (ram plus swap)
Except, as you said, HDD will be full quite fast, and `cleanup` is must to do no matter how much there is RAM.
---
### Author:  [@alltiagocom](https://meta.discourse.org/u/alltiagocom)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2025, 12:41pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-keep-getting-errors-when-updating/373634/15 "2025-07-14T12:41:53Z")
Thanks. For now I just want to start adding content and add some users until it makes sense to upgrade.
Off-topic, but still related to the disk space: when I was going through everything, I noticed that I was using around 18GB and when I asked ChatGPT, it said it was normal that Discourse takes that much space?
If so, then my 25GB server would be using 18GB for the installation + 4GB for the swapfile, leaving me with not a lot of space. Can you confirm this?
---
### Author:  [@merefield](https://meta.discourse.org/u/merefield)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2025, 12:47pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-keep-getting-errors-when-updating/373634/16 "2025-07-14T12:47:49Z")
I’m not going to debate with your robot.
You are correct that the 4GB will come out of your available disk space (of course).
---
### Author:  [@alltiagocom](https://meta.discourse.org/u/alltiagocom)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2025, 12:55pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-keep-getting-errors-when-updating/373634/17 "2025-07-14T12:55:32Z")
I just checked all folders and noticed that 12GB are being used by this folder:
`/var/lib/docker/overlay2/`
What is this and is it possible to reduce it by maybe removing files that are not necessary?
---
### Author:  [@Ed\_S](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Ed_S)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2025, 5:03pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-keep-getting-errors-when-updating/373634/18 "2025-07-14T17:03:04Z")
Perhaps see previous thread
[Discourse upgrade fails due to insufficient disk space on 25G droplet](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-upgrade-fails-due-to-insufficient-disk-space-on-25g-droplet/222062)
Perhaps also this thread
> [@Emergency backup - direct line to container command line](https://meta.discourse.org/t/emergency-backup-direct-line-to-container-command-line/316666/4):
>
> I run two small forums, one on 20G storage and the other on 25G. I do have to use quite a lot of time and ingenuity sometimes to keep that working. But also I seem to keep using (and posting about) the same set of tactics. See below.
---
### Author:  [@pfaffman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/pfaffman)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2025, 5:43pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-keep-getting-errors-when-updating/373634/19 "2025-07-14T17:43:50Z")
> [@alltiagocom](#):
>
> If so, then my 25GB server would be using 18GB for the installation + 4GB for the swapfile, leaving me with not a lot of space. Can you confirm this?
Maybe someone could say something like:
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> 25GB is just barely enough space
---
### Author:  [@alltiagocom](https://meta.discourse.org/u/alltiagocom)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2025, 7:31am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-keep-getting-errors-when-updating/373634/20 "2025-07-16T07:31:14Z")
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> Maybe someone could say something like:
>
> > [@pfaffman](#):
> >
> > 25GB is just barely enough space
Without any extra context, that initial comment was not very helpful for me. I wasn’t expecting Discourse to use 18GB of disk space when other platforms like phpBB are way lighter (not being an expert, I have no clue why one platform is lighter than the other, but they are different, apparently). So when you said that 25GB is barely enough space without adding more context to it, while there’s nothing on the official installation page that says that Discourse will maybe that N gigs of space, I assumed that the default Digital Ocean 1GB RAM with 25GB was more than enough and maybe bigger communities would struggle with just 25GB. Since mine is just in the beginning, I didn’t see disk space as an issue.
Hope that makes sense.
[Next page](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-keep-getting-errors-when-updating/373634.md?page=2)