Ram disk setup

lilsirecho · 2004-04-10 01:38:36

Wish to try ramdisk in kernel 2.6.5 and desire 64MB size. Have 1gb ram.

Have the following steps derived from internet..

mkdir /mnt/tmp
mkdir /tmp/ramdisk0
mke2fs /dev/ram0 [size in base2kB]; in my case 65536 (kernel entry is 4096)
mount -t /dev/ram0/tmp/ramdisk0

Perhaps the following is required in fstab:

/dev/ram0 /mnt/tmp ext2 defaults,users 0 1

The above is a little confusing as to the mnt commands...

Is there also a requirement for lilo even if ramdisk isn't used for boot?

This question is prompted by the references made to initrd in the internet examples stating it was required for ramdisk use. Lilo also permits the change in size, which might be required as well. This is shown established as an append=...........

Please advise

lilsirecho · 2004-04-12 15:48:49

After many google searches, found a solution to my ramdisk setup...

I use Lilo to boot so the append statement has an added entry:

"ramdisk_size=384000" ......(Size desired in KB is entered here)

Run /sbin/lilo...

Reboot....

At command line enter the following:

mkdir /tmp/ramdisk0....enter
mke2fs /dev/ram0...enter
mount -t ext2 /dev/ram0 /tmp/ramdisk0

The ramdisk will then be mounted and made available in disc free kde where it can be entered into file manager.
Each time the system is rebooted, the ram disk size is available but the three entries above will have to be re-entered in order to use ramdisk....

............................................................................................................................................

0=1, When?

lilsirecho · 2004-04-13 06:04:58

Another possible method to enable ramdisk(s)....

mkdir /mnt/ramdisk(number of disk is entered here, ie.ramdisk2...3....4....5..etc
mount ext2 /mnt/ramdisk(number) -t tmpfs

also possible:
mount ext3 /mnt/ramdisk(number) -t tmpfs

Mount of both ext2 and ext3 on separate ramdisks is possible.

My system has lilo append set to 500000KB and each of the two ramdisks accepts 449mb of video files providing half of a divx DVD on each ramdisk.

Perhaps there is another way?

lilsirecho · 2004-04-13 06:36:11

Another possibility...
mkdir /mnt/ramdiskx /mnt/ramdiskx+1 /mnt/ramdiskx+2....etc

mount X /mnt/ramdiskx -t tmpfs..... x is the ramdisk number...

mount as many as desired up to 255

Sample; mount 2 /mnt/ramdisk2 -t tmps

Works fine!!

lilsirecho · 2004-04-16 01:55:15

Still another method(Which might be the best)...
mkdir -p /RAMX (where X is a number i.e.2,3 ,4 ....)
mount -t ramfs none /RAMX -o maxsize=(desired file size KB)

Install file to be run in RAMX. (or more RAMX files as needed)

In my case, DVD vidx or .vob files are intended.

Files run in gmplayer in ram eliminating use of hard drive for hours of operation.

lilsirecho · 2004-04-16 17:58:04

A new twist in the ramdisk story...

If a file is loaded in RAM1 and the system is rebooted, the file in RAM1 remains in RAM1 until the ramfs is remounted.

If one desires to retain the file in RAM1 it can be transferred to disk prior to remount of the ramdisk RAM1. Thusly, data in ramdisk can be recovered after reboot.

If one remounts ramfs in RAM1, the data therein is wiped.

If one leaves RAM1 with data installed upon reboot, a second ramfs in RAM2 can be initiated without disturbing RAM1. The contents of RAM1 are available for entry into RAM2 if the situation warrants such file handling.

The ram limit is one half of physical ram and is available on RAM2 in the case described.

If two RAM files are mounted simultaneously, the ram limit applies in toto for the two(or more) RAM files mounted.

Arch Linux

#1 2004-04-10 01:38:36

Ram disk setup

#2 2004-04-12 15:48:49

Re: Ram disk setup

#3 2004-04-13 06:04:58

Re: Ram disk setup

#4 2004-04-13 06:36:11

Re: Ram disk setup

#5 2004-04-16 01:55:15

Re: Ram disk setup

#6 2004-04-16 17:58:04

Re: Ram disk setup

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