LXer: Linux Optimizations. Performance Boosting.

LXer · 09-30-2010, 10:12 PM

Published at LXer:

Last week, I came across a tutorial about tweaking a specific parameter in the Linux virtual memory subsystem. So I figured that I would share all of the optimizations that I usually go through in a new installation of Linux.

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H_TeXMeX_H · 10-01-2010, 09:25 AM

swappiness - it's not that important, my machine has only ever used swap when some program malfunctions and eats up all the RAM
noatime - check, knew about this one
FF cache - this is interesting, and I have never tried it, I will try it.

Kenny_Strawn · 10-01-2010, 09:29 AM

The one thing about swap is that, especially on low-space netbooks, it eats up precious SSD space that is even more limited than the 1GB of RAM the computer has. That's why I usually disable swap on my Acer Aspire One AOA110-1545, since it only has 8GB of space to deal with.

H_TeXMeX_H · 10-01-2010, 09:51 AM

Yes, swap is much more important if you're using an SSD. Personally, I don't think SSDs are worth their price. It's the wrong technology for the wrong purpose.

H_TeXMeX_H · 10-01-2010, 10:03 AM

Oh, and what exactly is the problem with putting the FF cache on /dev/shm, I've done this now because I'm lazy and I don't want extra complication. I think it'll be ok.

djsmiley2k · 10-01-2010, 10:11 AM

As the cache is exactly that, I dont forsee any problems with using it like that (and infact I guess this is why that functionality was added. However, if you follow your own guide, with the running the profile for firefox out of ram, you can see why that could cause issues;

H_TeXMeX_H · 10-01-2010, 10:23 AM

I did NOT put the entire profile in RAM, I think that would be dangerous, just the Cache for privacy reasons more than performance reasons. I draw the line when my data is at stake.

djsmiley2k · 10-01-2010, 10:48 AM

I'm thinking of writing a container script which copies the firefox profile into a ramdrive, starts firefox from it, and then copies it back when firefox closes.

The idea seems sound, but in pratice I may find issues. Will be a nice project for me though!