Speeding up Eee PC 901 boot.

anon02 · 09-05-2011, 01:49 AM

Recently I heard of people getting a 10 second boot on Ubuntu, so I tried to reach it. I got down to about a 24 second boot, and then 15 seconds to desktop and 5 to WiFi. On booting, it goes BIOS - Blinking white underscore - Plymouth - Login, with the underscore being the longest, being about 16 seconds long. I know there are things going on, but nearing the end there are very long times between things, such as:

Code:

[   13.505441] <==== rt28xx_init, Status=0
[   13.505517] 0x1300 = 00073200
[   18.735019] EXT4-fs (sda1): re-mounted. Opts: errors=remount-ro,commit=0
[   18.751992] EXT4-fs (sdb2): re-mounted. Opts: commit=0
[   19.005276] ===>rt_ioctl_giwscan. 1(1) BSS returned, data->length = 149
[   22.779020] EXT4-fs (sda1): re-mounted. Opts: errors=remount-ro,commit=0
[   22.791411] EXT4-fs (sdb2): re-mounted. Opts: commit=0
[   24.036038] wlan0: no IPv6 routers present
[   39.989124] ===>rt_ioctl_giwscan. 2(2) BSS returned, data->length = 296
[   39.990549] ==>rt_ioctl_siwfreq::SIOCSIWFREQ[cmd=0x8b04] (Channel=1)
[   43.525161] [UFW BLOCK] IN=wlan0 OUT= MAC=00:15:af:cb:19:18:00:50:7f:26:32:fa:08:00 SRC=212.159.6.9 DST=192.168.10.11 LEN=126 TOS=0x00 PREC=0xA0 TTL=61 ID=0 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=53 DPT=54476 LEN=106

And I was thinking of a way to make it faster. Also, the speed of getting to the desktop needs working on. Taking the same time as the boot to get to a working desktop is not in my eyes very good, so any tips?

So far I have removed Gwibber and the Me Menu, removed some fonts, changed Grub to 0 seconds (I never use it as I only have 20GB of disk space so would not dual boot), done some thing to remove a purple screen which is up after the blinking _, and removed the error which came from removing that. I then enabled it to use multicores to boot, as the 901 has Hyperthreading so it may improve.

Has anyone got any ideas? The dmesg output is attacheddmesg.txt

widget · 09-05-2011, 03:49 AM

You do not say what hardware you are running.

The fast times, Ubuntu was shooting for 10 seconds, were to be on small devices (tablets) with what ever the most popular processor is for them.

That said, you should be able to, on some hardware, get close to that.

Are you running bootchart? That is the recognized timer for this speed. It will actually add a couple seconds to your time but it also gives you a very nice, if large, graph of your boot process. Probably the thing to pinpoint what is going on.

cascade9 · 09-05-2011, 03:57 AM

The only time I've heard of people getting 'sub 10 seocnd boots' with ubuntu has been with very fast SSDs, and fast multi-core CPUs. Those times tend to be not to desktop, but to login manager-

http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/ubuntu-ssd-boot.html

Even if you got a fast SSD, the slow atom single core N270 is going to make booting slower.

I still think that the advice I gave you on your other thread is the best way to reduce booting times (without changing hardware anyway)-

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...-power-900085/

anon02 · 09-05-2011, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by widget

You do not say what hardware you are running.

The fast times, Ubuntu was shooting for 10 seconds, were to be on small devices (tablets) with what ever the most popular processor is for them.

That said, you should be able to, on some hardware, get close to that.

Are you running bootchart? That is the recognized timer for this speed. It will actually add a couple seconds to your time but it also gives you a very nice, if large, graph of your boot process. Probably the thing to pinpoint what is going on.

The hardware is an Asus Eee PC 901 with a Intel Atom N270 Hyperthreading 1.6GHz processor, 2GB of 533Mhz RAM, 4GB SSD, 16GB SSD, Elantech touchpad, 1.3MP Webcam, Dual array microphones (Not sure of the name).

I am going to try bootchart, I will get back with the response.

anon02 · 09-05-2011, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cascade9

The only time I've heard of people getting 'sub 10 seocnd boots' with ubuntu has been with very fast SSDs, and fast multi-core CPUs. Those times tend to be not to desktop, but to login manager-

http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/ubuntu-ssd-boot.html

Even if you got a fast SSD, the slow atom single core N270 is going to make booting slower.

I still think that the advice I gave you on your other thread is the best way to reduce booting times (without changing hardware anyway)-

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...-power-900085/

I am going to put a smaller distro on one day, but I will probably wait until I get a much faster SSD (Maximum of 250MB/s, on 4k write 40MB/s).

anon02 · 09-05-2011, 04:27 AM

Right, I used Bootchart and found that ureadahead, upstart-udev-br and udevd run constantly, along with rsyslogd, dbus-daemon, console-kit-dae, modem-manager, and there is a huge gap between wpa_supplicant, waiting about 15 seconds for upowerd, which seems to be the slow down.

Gnome does not seem to be a major issue, the maximum gap is between gnome-session and gnome-settings.

It took 25 seconds according to it, Disk throughput, and disk utilization are not woking for the first 3 seconds, quiet from 7 seconds till 8, 17 seconds till 19 is the same, after 21 seconds there is hardly anything.

The file is attached.

Click image for larger version

Name: ben-901-natty-20110905-1.jpg
Views: 19
Size: 220.7 KB
ID: 7939

cascade9 · 09-05-2011, 04:48 AM

Gnome itself might not be 'a major issue' but its farily easy to see that loading the gnome parts is using quite a bit of CPU, which is part of why your booting is slow (check the CPU and I/O wait graph at the top).

BTW, if you compare the CPU and I/O graph to the disc utilisation/disc throughput graph you can see that CPU is much more heavily used.

Sure, adding a faster SSD would help, but adding a faster CPU could actually help more. If it was possible in an EEE PC anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatPerson

I am going to put a smaller distro on one day, but I will probably wait until I get a much faster SSD (Maximum of 250MB/s, on 4k write 40MB/s).

Pretty pointless on an EEE PC 901. That computer uses the 945GSE/ICH7-M chipset, and the ICH7-M only has SATA I (SATA 1.5 Gbit/s). Max trasfer speed is 150MB/sec.

I'd try a more minimal setup, or a lighter distro, before I'd go buying an SSD that will be at least slightly 'crippled'.

anon02 · 09-05-2011, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cascade9

Gnome itself might not be 'a major issue' but its farily easy to see that loading the gnome parts is using quite a bit of CPU, which is part of why your booting is slow (check the CPU and I/O wait graph at the top).

BTW, if you compare the CPU and I/O graph to the disc utilisation/disc throughput graph you can see that CPU is much more heavily used.

Sure, adding a faster SSD would help, but adding a faster CPU could actually help more. If it was possible in an EEE PC anyway.

Pretty pointless on an EEE PC 901. That computer uses the 945GSE/ICH7-M chipset, and the ICH7-M only has SATA I (SATA 1.5 Gbit/s). Max trasfer speed is 150MB/sec.

I'd try a more minimal setup, or a lighter distro, before I'd go buying an SSD that will be at least slightly 'crippled'.

Ah, sorry about that, I meant to write 150MB/s. That is still much better than the current disk, 60MB/s maximum and 0.1MB/s 4k write.

With Xubuntu is there an Ambience theme for it? With the buttons on the left? Also, is there a way to install it and keep all of the current programs and files?

cascade9 · 09-05-2011, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatPerson

Ah, sorry about that, I meant to write 150MB/s. That is still much better than the current disk, 60MB/s maximum and 0.1MB/s 4k write.

I dont even know what SSDs models there is in the 901. Where did you get your speed figures?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatPerson

With Xubuntu is there an Ambience theme for it?With the buttons on the left?

http://mygeekopinions.blogspot.com/2...et-ubuntu.html

http://xfce-look.org/content/show.php?content=141027

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...-theme-829183/

Wow, somebody actually wants the buttons on the left...why?

I've always thought that it was stupid the way that the moved the buttons to the left 'to make room for windicators' with 10.04. 11.04, and whats the message from saint shuttleworth? -

Quote:

“I’d love to see [Windicators] done, but it’s not critical to “getting Unity out there” which is our mission for 11.04.”

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/01/w...tical-to-11-04

*stops typing before it turns into a rant*

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatPerson

Also, is there a way to install it and keep all of the current programs and files?

Yes. But if you install xubunt-desktop you will get more programs installed.....it could even make booting slower, at least to the display manager. See the package list here-

http://packages.ubuntu.com/natty/xubuntu-desktop

If you install Xfce4 you will not get all the cruft that goes with xubunt-desktop-

http://packages.ubuntu.com/natty/xfce4

alfplayer · 09-05-2011, 11:21 PM

Do you consider hibernating (suspending to disk)?

Also, this software might help: http://e4rat.sourceforge.net/ (I don't know if it works with Ubuntu).

anon02 · 09-06-2011, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cascade9

I dont even know what SSDs models there is in the 901. Where did you get your speed figures?

PCI/E Micro Adaptor, the speeds are: http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.p...742416#p742416

Quote:

Originally Posted by cascade9

http://mygeekopinions.blogspot.com/2...et-ubuntu.html

http://xfce-look.org/content/show.php?content=141027

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...-theme-829183/

Wow, somebody actually wants the buttons on the left...why?

I've always thought that it was stupid the way that the moved the buttons to the left 'to make room for windicators' with 10.04. 11.04, and whats the message from saint shuttleworth? -

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/01/w...tical-to-11-04

*stops typing before it turns into a rant*

Well, I use Ubuntu quite a lot and have got used to them on the left :P.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cascade9;4462456
Yes. But if you install xubunt-desktop you will get more programs installed.....it could even make booting slower, at least to the display manager. See the package list here-

[url

http://packages.ubuntu.com/natty/xubuntu-desktop[/url]

If you install Xfce4 you will not get all the cruft that goes with xubunt-desktop-

http://packages.ubuntu.com/natty/xfce4

Hmm.... I will probably make a list of items to install an leave apt-get installing them. And backup my documents and everything to put Xubuntu on here.

One note though, Unity currently is very quick, and I tried OpenBox on here, and it didn't really seem to be much faster at loading applications, so I do not really see what the point of putting a lighter desktop environment on, except to stop the Gnome processes at boot.

anon02 · 09-06-2011, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alfplayer

Do you consider hibernating (suspending to disk)?

Also, this software might help: http://e4rat.sourceforge.net/ (I don't know if it works with Ubuntu).

I would hibernate it, but one problem with hibernating on the 901 with Ubuntu is afterwards you cannot get a internet connection. I had a look at the e4rat software, but it does not like another package called ureadahead. Thanks for the help anyway.

jefro · 09-06-2011, 07:47 AM

Might look at xpud for how they sped up a boot.

I think part of this is the system you have.

anon02 · 09-06-2011, 08:10 AM

I have decided to install Xubuntu onto a USB stick which has more or less the same characteristics as the SSD inside (Same size, read/write speeds, etc) on a trial basis to time, optimize and see if it gets 10 seconds, if so I will install it.

I would use xPUD, however I do not use the web very much, I more program.

anon02 · 09-06-2011, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatPerson

I have decided to install Xubuntu onto a USB stick which has more or less the same characteristics as the SSD inside (Same size, read/write speeds, etc) on a trial basis to time, optimize and see if it gets 10 seconds, if so I will install it.

I would use xPUD, however I do not use the web very much, I more program.

Quite a development. Turns out that my optimisation on Ubuntu 11.04 has actually made it FASTER at booting than a freshly installed system. Speeds below:

3.4Ghz Dual Core 1.5GB RAM running Xubuntu from power button to log in screen: 30 seconds~
1.6GHz Hyperthreading 2GB RAM running optimised Ubuntu from power button to login screen: 23 seconds~

Then from login to desktop:

3.4GHz Dual Core 1.5GB RAM running Xubuntu from log in screen to desktop: 20 seconds (At 10 it has a large white bar with most icons loaded, but it only loads how it should look after 20.)
1.6GHz Hyperthreading 2GB RAM running optimised Ubuntu from login to desktop: 14 seconds (Displays nothing until the end of it loading)

So I think I will continue with Ubuntu.