[opensuse-factory] Booting from Live USB to RAM
I have always quite liked a boot option in DamnSmallLinux: toram When you boot the live system "toram" the whole system is runs only in RAM. It's unbelievably fast (even in a 200 MHz box with 128 MB RAM). I wonder if this could be implemented in openSUSE Live? Vahis -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org
On 2010-12-19 15:03, wrote Vahis:
I have always quite liked a boot option in DamnSmallLinux: toram
When you boot the live system "toram" the whole system is runs only in RAM.
It's unbelievably fast (even in a 200 MHz box with 128 MB RAM).
I wonder if this could be implemented in openSUSE Live?
Vahis
Since normal openSUSE LiveCDs are 700MB (instead of 50MB) plus overlay-writing and apps need some more RAM, that might need more than 1GB of RAM to work, which would limit the usefulnes. Ciao Bernhard M. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org
On Sun, Dec 19, 2010 at 21:24, Bernhard M. Wiedemann wrote:
On 2010-12-19 15:03, wrote Vahis:
I have always quite liked a boot option in DamnSmallLinux: toram
When you boot the live system "toram" the whole system is runs only in RAM.
It's unbelievably fast (even in a 200 MHz box with 128 MB RAM).
I wonder if this could be implemented in openSUSE Live?
Vahis
Since normal openSUSE LiveCDs are 700MB (instead of 50MB) plus overlay-writing and apps need some more RAM, that might need more than 1GB of RAM to work, which would limit the usefulnes.
Errr... OK, but.. I'm sure that Vahis didn't mean that he wanted to run a 700MB openSUSE iso in 128Mb of RAM... it was just an example from DSL I've got 8Gb or 16Gb of RAM. I've often wished it was possible to "install" to RAM instead of to disk. A 700MB iso would "install" nicely into a RAM Drive (I'm thinking something like iRAM from a few years ago). OK, I know it's possible but... the process isn't so well known or documented... or done for that matter. C. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org
On 12/20/2010 12:28 AM, C wrote:
On Sun, Dec 19, 2010 at 21:24, Bernhard M. Wiedemann wrote:
On 2010-12-19 15:03, wrote Vahis:
I have always quite liked a boot option in DamnSmallLinux: toram
When you boot the live system "toram" the whole system is runs only in RAM.
It's unbelievably fast (even in a 200 MHz box with 128 MB RAM).
I wonder if this could be implemented in openSUSE Live?
Vahis
Since normal openSUSE LiveCDs are 700MB (instead of 50MB) plus overlay-writing and apps need some more RAM, that might need more than 1GB of RAM to work, which would limit the usefulnes.
Errr... OK, but.. I'm sure that Vahis didn't mean that he wanted to run a 700MB openSUSE iso in 128Mb of RAM... it was just an example from DSL
All machines sold today have at least 1 GB (they have Windows). Beginners would be amazed by the speed of Linux in their machine. The Live media boot script could even sniff the amount of RAM and give a suggestion to boot to RAM if there's enough. Or perhaps even just go ahead and do it plus propose to make a SWAP file in the user space. This would be a great thing both for beginners who want to try Linux and for advanced users as a tool. Vahis -- http://waxborg.servepics.com openSUSE 11.3 (x86_64) 2.6.34.7-0.5-default -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org
Vahis wrote:
On 12/20/2010 12:28 AM, C wrote:
On Sun, Dec 19, 2010 at 21:24, Bernhard M. Wiedemann wrote:
On 2010-12-19 15:03, wrote Vahis:
I have always quite liked a boot option in DamnSmallLinux: toram
When you boot the live system "toram" the whole system is runs only in RAM.
It's unbelievably fast (even in a 200 MHz box with 128 MB RAM).
I wonder if this could be implemented in openSUSE Live?
Vahis
Since normal openSUSE LiveCDs are 700MB (instead of 50MB) plus overlay-writing and apps need some more RAM, that might need more than 1GB of RAM to work, which would limit the usefulnes.
Errr... OK, but.. I'm sure that Vahis didn't mean that he wanted to run a 700MB openSUSE iso in 128Mb of RAM... it was just an example from DSL
All machines sold today have at least 1 GB (they have Windows).
A rough calculation tells me you'd need a bit more than that - stick the ISO in memory, and you're left with 250Mb, which isn't enough to run a GUI with no swap. For machines with 2Gb and more, it's probably an interesting idea. -- Per Jessen, Zürich (2.6°C) -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org
On 12/19/2010 09:39 PM, Per Jessen wrote:
Vahis wrote:
On 12/20/2010 12:28 AM, C wrote:
On Sun, Dec 19, 2010 at 21:24, Bernhard M. Wiedemann wrote:
On 2010-12-19 15:03, wrote Vahis:
I have always quite liked a boot option in DamnSmallLinux: toram
When you boot the live system "toram" the whole system is runs only in RAM.
It's unbelievably fast (even in a 200 MHz box with 128 MB RAM).
I wonder if this could be implemented in openSUSE Live?
Vahis
Since normal openSUSE LiveCDs are 700MB (instead of 50MB) plus overlay-writing and apps need some more RAM, that might need more than 1GB of RAM to work, which would limit the usefulnes.
Errr... OK, but.. I'm sure that Vahis didn't mean that he wanted to run a 700MB openSUSE iso in 128Mb of RAM... it was just an example from DSL
All machines sold today have at least 1 GB (they have Windows).
A rough calculation tells me you'd need a bit more than that - stick the ISO in memory, and you're left with 250Mb, which isn't enough to run a GUI with no swap.
For machines with 2Gb and more, it's probably an interesting idea.
Might be cool, yet I think SolidStateDisk drives will negate the usefulness of such an idea. They are getting very fast. Sure, not as fast as accessing RAM, BUT you have to first copy your OS image from disc or HD before you can run it in RAM. This takes time. I use a small SSD for my root, while /home /srv and other things are mounted on a HD. I cold boot into KDE in a matter of seconds. BIOS test and grub menu are the bottlenecks now. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org
On 12/20/2010 10:26 AM, s2_johnm wrote:
On 12/19/2010 09:39 PM, Per Jessen wrote:
Vahis wrote:
On 12/20/2010 12:28 AM, C wrote:
On Sun, Dec 19, 2010 at 21:24, Bernhard M. Wiedemann wrote:
On 2010-12-19 15:03, wrote Vahis:
I have always quite liked a boot option in DamnSmallLinux: toram
When you boot the live system "toram" the whole system is runs only in RAM.
It's unbelievably fast (even in a 200 MHz box with 128 MB RAM).
I wonder if this could be implemented in openSUSE Live?
Vahis
Since normal openSUSE LiveCDs are 700MB (instead of 50MB) plus overlay-writing and apps need some more RAM, that might need more than 1GB of RAM to work, which would limit the usefulnes.
Errr... OK, but.. I'm sure that Vahis didn't mean that he wanted to run a 700MB openSUSE iso in 128Mb of RAM... it was just an example from DSL
All machines sold today have at least 1 GB (they have Windows).
A rough calculation tells me you'd need a bit more than that - stick the ISO in memory, and you're left with 250Mb, which isn't enough to run a GUI with no swap.
For machines with 2Gb and more, it's probably an interesting idea.
Might be cool, yet I think SolidStateDisk drives will negate the usefulness of such an idea. They are getting very fast. Sure, not as fast as accessing RAM, BUT you have to first copy your OS image from disc or HD before you can run it in RAM. This takes time.
You are quite right as for an installed system. But I'm talking about a Live OS situation, that is a user who wants to try out Linux without installing. The speed of a system running completely in RAM is amazing compared to his/her current installed OS. Or an advanced user who wants to use a temporary machine without having to install.
I use a small SSD for my root, while /home /srv and other things are mounted on a HD. I cold boot into KDE in a matter of seconds. BIOS test and grub menu are the bottlenecks now.
I'm still waiting and hoping that SLC disks get cheaper.. Vahis -- http://waxborg.servepics.com openSUSE 11.3 (x86_64) 2.6.34.7-0.5-default -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org
On 12/20/2010 08:39 AM, Per Jessen wrote:
Vahis wrote:
On 12/20/2010 12:28 AM, C wrote:
On Sun, Dec 19, 2010 at 21:24, Bernhard M. Wiedemann wrote:
On 2010-12-19 15:03, wrote Vahis:
I have always quite liked a boot option in DamnSmallLinux: toram
When you boot the live system "toram" the whole system is runs only in RAM.
It's unbelievably fast (even in a 200 MHz box with 128 MB RAM).
I wonder if this could be implemented in openSUSE Live?
Vahis
Since normal openSUSE LiveCDs are 700MB (instead of 50MB) plus overlay-writing and apps need some more RAM, that might need more than 1GB of RAM to work, which would limit the usefulnes.
Errr... OK, but.. I'm sure that Vahis didn't mean that he wanted to run a 700MB openSUSE iso in 128Mb of RAM... it was just an example from DSL
All machines sold today have at least 1 GB (they have Windows).
A rough calculation tells me you'd need a bit more than that - stick the ISO in memory, and you're left with 250Mb, which isn't enough to run a GUI with no swap.
For machines with 2Gb and more, it's probably an interesting idea.
I checked some ads they run on newspapers and magazines. A typical "super market box" has 2 to 4 gigs and multicore proc. Also a SWAP file could created on the machine's hard disk. Vahis -- http://waxborg.servepics.com openSUSE 11.3 (x86_64) 2.6.34.7-0.5-default -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org
Vahis wrote:
On 12/20/2010 08:39 AM, Per Jessen wrote:
Vahis wrote:
On 12/20/2010 12:28 AM, C wrote:
On Sun, Dec 19, 2010 at 21:24, Bernhard M. Wiedemann wrote:
On 2010-12-19 15:03, wrote Vahis:
I have always quite liked a boot option in DamnSmallLinux: toram
When you boot the live system "toram" the whole system is runs only in RAM.
It's unbelievably fast (even in a 200 MHz box with 128 MB RAM).
I wonder if this could be implemented in openSUSE Live?
Vahis
Since normal openSUSE LiveCDs are 700MB (instead of 50MB) plus overlay-writing and apps need some more RAM, that might need more than 1GB of RAM to work, which would limit the usefulnes.
Errr... OK, but.. I'm sure that Vahis didn't mean that he wanted to run a 700MB openSUSE iso in 128Mb of RAM... it was just an example from DSL
All machines sold today have at least 1 GB (they have Windows).
A rough calculation tells me you'd need a bit more than that - stick the ISO in memory, and you're left with 250Mb, which isn't enough to run a GUI with no swap.
For machines with 2Gb and more, it's probably an interesting idea.
I checked some ads they run on newspapers and magazines. A typical "super market box" has 2 to 4 gigs and multicore proc.
Also a SWAP file could created on the machine's hard disk.
It's probably not very desirable to touch the harddisk for a Live install. Regardless, I think it's a pretty cool idea, even if not really targeted on our primary audience. It can't be that difficult either - it's basically: if enough memory available then copy CD to memory and run from there, else run from CD. Sounds like a couple of lines in the startup script. -- Per Jessen, Zürich (4.7°C) -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org
On 12/20/2010 12:00 PM, Per Jessen wrote:
Vahis wrote:
> I have always quite liked a boot option in DamnSmallLinux: toram > > When you boot the live system "toram" the whole system is runs > only in RAM.
Also a SWAP file could created on the machine's hard disk.
It's probably not very desirable to touch the harddisk for a Live install.
One could also use the spare part on that USB stick. We already have instructions to make a partition on it. That's where the user can store all settings and stuff. Maybe a swap file could be put there then?
Regardless, I think it's a pretty cool idea, even if not really targeted on our primary audience.
I think it would gain more audience, the ones who run the other OS and would like to have a peak: "OK, I'll try this..." "Geesh! This thing is lightning fast!"
It can't be that difficult either - it's basically: if enough memory available then copy CD to memory and run from there, else run from CD. Sounds like a couple of lines in the startup script.
It sounds like I could easily agree with that. It's just that I don't know how :) Vahis -- http://waxborg.servepics.com openSUSE 11.3 (x86_64) 2.6.34.7-0.5-default -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org
On Mon, Dec 20, 2010 at 18:23, Vahis wrote:
One could also use the spare part on that USB stick. We already have instructions to make a partition on it. That's where the user can store all settings and stuff.
Maybe a swap file could be put there then?
Regardless, I think it's a pretty cool idea, even if not really targeted on our primary audience.
I think it would gain more audience, the ones who run the other OS and would like to have a peak:
"OK, I'll try this..." "Geesh! This thing is lightning fast!"
It can't be that difficult either - it's basically: if enough memory available then copy CD to memory and run from there, else run from CD. Sounds like a couple of lines in the startup script.
It sounds like I could easily agree with that. It's just that I don't know how :)
Did just a little poking around... http://www.pendrivelinux.com/ubuntu-toram-how-to-make-ubuntu-boot-to-ram/ http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=56599&p=349329 http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-296892-highlight-ramdisk+copy.html and there are more... so if someone has a little time on their hands, they could certainly sort out how to copy the entire core of an openSUSE installl to RAM and run it all from there. Seems like a good excuse to go out and buy another 8gb of RAM :-) C -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org
On 12/20/2010 11:06 PM, C wrote:
On Mon, Dec 20, 2010 at 18:23, Vahis wrote:
One could also use the spare part on that USB stick. We already have instructions to make a partition on it. That's where the user can store all settings and stuff.
Maybe a swap file could be put there then?
Regardless, I think it's a pretty cool idea, even if not really targeted on our primary audience.
I think it would gain more audience, the ones who run the other OS and would like to have a peak:
"OK, I'll try this..." "Geesh! This thing is lightning fast!"
It can't be that difficult either - it's basically: if enough memory available then copy CD to memory and run from there, else run from CD. Sounds like a couple of lines in the startup script.
It sounds like I could easily agree with that. It's just that I don't know how :)
Did just a little poking around... http://www.pendrivelinux.com/ubuntu-toram-how-to-make-ubuntu-boot-to-ram/ http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=56599&p=349329 http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-296892-highlight-ramdisk+copy.html and there are more... so if someone has a little time on their hands, they could certainly sort out how to copy the entire core of an openSUSE installl to RAM and run it all from there.
Seems like a good excuse to go out and buy another 8gb of RAM :-)
C
I put it in openfate: Feature has been created with id 311011. Vahis -- http://waxborg.servepics.com openSUSE 11.3 (x86_64) 2.6.34.7-0.5-default -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-factory+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-factory+help@opensuse.org
participants (5)
-
Bernhard M. Wiedemann -
C -
Per Jessen -
s2_johnm -
Vahis