Arch Linux

Gamonics

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From: Rhode Island, USA

Registered: 2015-02-10

Posts: 40

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[SOLVED] Entire Arch installation in a RAM disk?

I've read about using tmpfs for certain partitions.

But what about having the entire root filesystem and all other mounted partitions being in a RAM disk like tmpfs?

I found this thread where the OP seems to be doing this. But I don't want to necrobump, and it looks like he was not entirely successful at the endeavor.

This thread is also related, but it's even older.

Having an entire Arch root filesystem installed into a RAM disk and running from there (with periodic updates to non-volatile storage as one alternative, and with no updates to non-volatile storage as another alternative so that when one boots the system it's always in it's original state) seems like it would be a terrific alternative.

Is this possible? Is there a wiki article or a how-to? I couldn't find one for Arch. The closest I could find was the first bbs thread above. Is anyone doing this routinely?

Last edited by Gamonics (2015-04-02 19:17:52)

nbvcxz

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From: Poland

Registered: 2007-12-29

Posts: 202

Re: [SOLVED] Entire Arch installation in a RAM disk?

In theory it is possible - you mentioned quite fresh topic, but wouldn't it more reasonable just use SSD  for this purpose?

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Gamonics

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From: Rhode Island, USA

Registered: 2015-02-10

Posts: 40

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Re: [SOLVED] Entire Arch installation in a RAM disk?

Tobias Kind seems to think that a RAM disk performance is much better than that of an SSD.

Gamonics

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From: Rhode Island, USA

Registered: 2015-02-10

Posts: 40

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Re: [SOLVED] Entire Arch installation in a RAM disk?

This wikipedia article listing linux distributions that run from RAM is also related.

WorMzy

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From: Scotland

Registered: 2010-06-16

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Re: [SOLVED] Entire Arch installation in a RAM disk?

This was recently posted: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=193461

It seems to be what you're after.

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Gamonics

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From: Rhode Island, USA

Registered: 2015-02-10

Posts: 40

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Re: [SOLVED] Entire Arch installation in a RAM disk?

Thanks, WorMzy. That does indeed look like what I'm after. I'll try it out.