Re: OT: initrd / change root fs
The linux kernel uses all otherwise-unused ram as a buffer cache.
You could just use hdparm to set the disk spindown. I found on a router
I had it would spin down most of the time unless I logged in to do
something. You might have to track down things that write to syslog and
keep the disk from spinning down. the linux laptop project has a lot of
tricks for this kind of thing.
Regrads,
Jeremy
On Mon, 2003-04-07 at 16:14, schnobs@babylon-kino.de wrote:
> Hi,
>
> this clearly doesn't belong here... but I guess my chances
> to find someone who knows about the subject are far better
> here than anywhere else.
>
> Like many others, I have an older machine serving as maqerading
> host, fax-/dhcp-/nameserver etc. in a very small office. As is
> the nature of these boxes, most of the time it has very little to do.
> Now I wonder how I could move all the files that are needed for
> daily use into RAM and spin down the disk.
>
> One means that comes to mind would be a very big initrd;
> however, this would also mean that every upgrade or install
> would nevessarily be preceded by a reboot and followed by the
> generation of a new initrd. I don't think that's worthwhile.
>
> More preferrable: I'd like to change the root fs under all
> running processes much in the same way as you can pull out a
> tablecloth under the dishes.
> Ideally, I'd like to end up with a script that copies the
> existing files into the ramdisk and changes the root fs; this
> way, I could simply switch back to the harddisk for my 'apt-get upgrade' and just as easily
> copy the upgraded system back into
> RAM.
>
> Now, before I start trying: is this possible at all?
> Any hints, ideas or recommended readings that could protect
> me from the worst frustration?
>
> TIA,
> Schnobs
>
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