Ubuntu

Ram disk in ubuntu

Asked by achapp

Hello ,
       I would like to clarify something regarding the ram disk usage in Linux . In windows we usually have that set and it is used the temporary files . this method really helps in speeding up certain operations especially the internet browsing . I would like to know whether such a facility is available with feisty . Can we manually configure it and ask the OS to use it . Also how can we use it for storing the temporary internet files like as in windows . Kindly let me know

with regards
Ashraf

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achapp
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Antonio Pérez-Aranda Alcaide (ant30) said : 		#1

You just have got a partition disk mounted on ram.
If you run the command df on an terminal, you can see more partitions that you really use, as /home or /.
Example This is a ram partition:
devshm 241140 0 241140 0% /dev/shm

Then, you can go to /dev/shm to use ram.

Temporaly file are saved on /tmp directory
This directory is cleared on every reboot or power off.
Firefox use much RAM because is use many cache files on ram and others thing to do more fast the Internet browsing.
For speed up your browser, you can set some tips that you can find on this links:

Configure firefox for disabled ipv6 and high bandwidth connection:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=423905

Disable the ipv6 functions for linux kernel:
 http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=87798&highlight=ipv6

Check and follow this HowTo and talk me about your experience.

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achapp (achapp) said : 		#2

thanks my friend . It really showed a marked improvement . Regarding ram disk i still have some doubts . I will put the output of df command here . Here there was nothing like /dev/shm . If possible please explain me . I am relatively new to linux environment

Filesystem 1K-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on
/dev/hda3 20003228 3276140 15710980 18% /
varrun 255768 100 255668 1% /var/run
varlock 255768 0 255768 0% /var/lock
procbususb 255768 128 255640 1% /proc/bus/usb
udev 255768 128 255640 1% /dev
devshm 255768 0 255768 0% /dev/shm
lrm 255768 38972 216796 16% /lib/modules/2.6.20-16-generic/volatile
/dev/disk/by-uuid/D2FC73E0FC73BCF3
                      12313788 11689896 623892 95% /media/hda1
/dev/disk/by-uuid/12F7553D7472E759
                      20659556 11648640 9010916 57% /media/hda5
/dev/hda6 11920992 10676224 1244768 90% /media/hda6
/dev/disk/by-uuid/020441545997A790
                      11880032 8313284 3566748 70% /media/hda7
/dev/disk/by-uuid/98C4F4A1C4F482B4
                      15157296 15157272 24 100% /media/hdb5
/dev/hdb6 23901024 17894080 6006944 75% /media/hdb6

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Antonio Pérez-Aranda Alcaide (ant30) said : 		#3

Watch line 6:

devshm 255768 0 255768 0% /dev/shm

If you don't see, check this
df | grep shm
(grep is a command to filter texts).

You don't may use it if you don't know that are you doing.
Linux systems has a very improvement and faster memory management respect to microsoft system.

GNU/Linux system was made thinking on multitasking and multiuser of UNIX. Then, If you use a temporary files (cache files) from firefox on a ram disk, you can have got many security and risk problems if you don't know that are you doing.

I suggest you that follow the howtos that I said befeore, to speed up your interactive web browsing.

Revision history for this message
Best achapp (achapp) said : 		#4

Thanks friend , it was really worth and useful