run arch in RAM

broken pipe · 2011-01-20 13:21:33

hi all,
would it be possible, or is there any "easy" way to entirely run arch from ram? i think archie (?) has this nice cp2ram options but i couldn't find any more information about that or how it works.
this issue was already discussed in the gentoo forums (http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-29 … +copy.html) but i don't know if it works on arch or if it's really worth doing!?
i have lot's of unused ram and would like to transfer more stuff into ram to speed things up!

best regards

Gusar · 2011-01-20 13:49:18

It won't speed up applications, just possibly their loading time. And even that at the expense of a *much* longer boot time, so really, you're not getting anything by putting everything into ram.

karol · 2011-01-20 14:27:05

What exactly are you trying to speed up?
Apps are loaded into RAM anyway when you use them, so you may end up with a much slower system boot (you load it ALL into RAM) and than open the few apps you use instantly.
Edit: ... as Gusar already wrote.

RAM is pretty cheap nowadays so selling it is not the best idea either.

Last edited by karol (2011-01-20 14:27:54)

ANOKNUSA · 2011-01-20 14:40:57

http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=64281

Running entirely from ram also leaves open the possibility of losing important data after a crash. Check out the preload and go-preload packages, and loading certain directories (such as /tmp) into ram. Despite using KDE, I usually find myself with two-thirds of my ram available even with several apps open, so I like to devote as much of it as possible to everything I can--typically, nepomuk and pre-loaded apps.

lilsirecho · 2011-01-20 16:11:36

Perhaps CKArchLive is your ticket. It runs from CD or Flash and has cp2ram option.

Downloads from Calimero teknik, is a french adoption of arch, the download has an english option at boot time.

Operating in ram with a flash unit provides the fastest boot time (23 secs in my computer in cp2ram).

My computer uses Compact Flash 2GB with a sata adapter.

There is no HDD in the system so power consumption is down and latency is not a problem.

All operations occur in ram as you desired.

Look for Calimero's posts.

Don't give up the ship~!

lilsirecho · 2011-01-20 16:29:19

As to loss of data, ince the system is couched in Flash, there can be no problem if the system crashes...just reboot.

Reboot from the cp2ram system can be as fast as pressing the reset button on the computer which wipes the ram "toot de suite" and Flash is unaffected.

If using Flash from USB, the boot time will be much longer. However, if copied to ram, the system will be at maximum PERFORMANCE, regardless of the fact that normal operations run in ram with a hdd , CD or USB based OS.

Latest packages compatible with the installed kernel can be downloaded and operated in a given session.

Operating in this manner prevents any corruption of the system since the Flash devices retains its stored program.

When operating in cp2ram, the flash device can be removed, as a matter of note.

Gusar · 2011-01-20 16:51:57

lilsirecho wrote:

the system will be at maximum PERFORMANCE

There will be no performance difference. The only difference is, app data isn't read from a disk when the app starts. But once the app starts, it's all the same. So where should this performance come from?

lilsirecho · 2011-01-20 17:47:13

Gusar:

You stated the PERFORMANCE item very well...the "starting" is already in ram with the "live" cp2ram system.

Gusar · 2011-01-20 18:38:07

That's not performance, that's just loading times. By "performance" I understand an app actually working faster.

lilsirecho · 2011-01-20 19:44:42

If the loading is eliminated, that is PERFORMANCE...however small!

ANOKNUSA · 2011-01-20 22:15:51

I think you need to perform a cost/benefit analysis here. What DE/WM are you using? Just how much ram are we talking about? Won't preloading those programs which lag the most during start-up be enough? Do you wan't to go through what was described in that Gentoo forums thread--repartitioning your hard drive and reinstalling Arch, or migrating/installing to a new flash drive--to save a couple seconds? Are those couple seconds so valuable that you're willing to wait a couple of minutes for your machine to boot up first? If everything's sitting in ram, you may be lacking the space necessary to suspend to ram, and will need to suspend to disk--which will further increase start-up time. Again, I'm not sure how much ram you've got. In the end, if you really want to significantly improve overall performance, you'll need a new cpu. As a half-assed analogy, think of your box as a car: sticking more fuel in the tank won't make it go faster, but widening the fuel line and changing the fuel type will help acceleration, as more fuel will be immediately available to the engine.

As for CKArchlive, that looks to be an Arch-spin in the spirit of Puppy, using a minimal Openbox setup. It's fast because it requires little ram or cpu power, not because it's maximized the amount of ram it can use.

lilsirecho · 2011-01-20 22:38:43

Using Compact Flash @ 45MB/s provides minimum access time for a package..no seek time latency. This move is much better than doubling the cpu speed, but if the ram speed is doubled, that is a direct one-to-one increase in PERFORMANCE.

New computers are not cheap.

All the ram is available in cp2ram, even 64GB. My system is x86_64 in CTK and is very snappy even with kdenlive, HP printer, VLC, SMplayer,Gimp. jumanji, qtfm , ranger among others.

Can't lose with a trial download and DD to Flash...Compact Flash in IDE mode is best.

Gusar · 2011-01-21 10:27:11

lilsirecho wrote:

If the loading is eliminated, that is PERFORMANCE...however small!

Please explain to me how performance is better once the app is loaded.

Mr Green · 2011-01-21 11:27:31

If you are going down the run in ram route I would create a large tmpfs using SSD/CF disks

Live distros do run faster in ram but when you shutdown you lose all your data/settings/configs no real gain in my eyes

my2c

lilsirecho · 2011-04-17 03:10:52

When using CTK all changes in the Live session can be saved via addons and will be available upon reboot.

I have performed two consecutive upgrade addons which retain the added items in Live session.

It takes a little time but is worth it.

Cp2ram takes 10 seconds of boot time with a block CF device, the CF running in IDE mode @ 45MB/sec. read speed. Read only live system.......................

Arch Linux

#1 2011-01-20 13:21:33

run arch in RAM

#2 2011-01-20 13:49:18

Re: run arch in RAM

#3 2011-01-20 14:27:05

Re: run arch in RAM

#4 2011-01-20 14:40:57

Re: run arch in RAM

#5 2011-01-20 16:11:36

Re: run arch in RAM

#6 2011-01-20 16:29:19

Re: run arch in RAM

#7 2011-01-20 16:51:57

Re: run arch in RAM

#8 2011-01-20 17:47:13

Re: run arch in RAM

#9 2011-01-20 18:38:07

Re: run arch in RAM

#10 2011-01-20 19:44:42

Re: run arch in RAM

#11 2011-01-20 22:15:51

Re: run arch in RAM

#12 2011-01-20 22:38:43

Re: run arch in RAM

#13 2011-01-21 10:27:11

Re: run arch in RAM

#14 2011-01-21 11:27:31

Re: run arch in RAM

#15 2011-04-17 03:10:52

Re: run arch in RAM

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