WelcomeWelcome | FAQFAQ | DownloadsDownloads | WikiWiki

Author Topic: tinycore_2.2rc1  (Read 7406 times)

Offline roberts

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7361
  • Founder Emeritus
tinycore_2.2rc1
« on: July 08, 2009, 12:35:43 PM »
The First Release Candidate of v2.2 (tinycore_2.2rc1.iso),  is now posted and ready for testing.
http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/tinycorelinux/2.x/release/

Change log for v2.2 Release Candidate 1
* New boot option embed to stay on initramfs.
* Upgraded iso now using isolinux 3.8.2 to easily support isohybrid (see the new syslinux extension).
* Updated upgrade_tce.sh fixed false error warning and added to "Tools" menu section.
* Updated usbinstall with "need root warning" also added to "Tools" menu section.
* Updated tce-load to use -c 'continue' option of wget to better support downloading.
* Updated busybox, replaced missing dc applet, also added Length to wget applet output.
* Updated boot time F2 to display better message regarding kmaps.
* Updated boot time F3 to display missing options, noicons and laptop.

Note:

Update your .jwmrc to get the new menu items listed above.
« Last Edit: July 08, 2009, 01:01:27 PM by roberts »
10+ Years Contributing to Linux Open Source Projects.

Offline tclfan

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 286
Re: tinycore_2.2rc1
« Reply #1 on: July 08, 2009, 03:08:58 PM »
I just want to say - Thank you very much!
The capability of going back to initramfs via 'embed' option is greatly appreciated for the sake of utmost efficiency and performance. I do not need tempfs at this point, as probably many others, although it is good to have that option as well, just in case of running into such requirement...

Taking this opportunity I want also to say that TCL is a real gem, greatly appreciated, brilliant design, IMHO.

Offline linus72

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 196
  • Damn it Jim!
Re: tinycore_2.2rc1
« Reply #2 on: July 11, 2009, 07:05:55 PM »
Roberts;could you plese explain, in layman's terms what that means?

Quote
* New boot option embed to stay on initramfs.

thanks and great work team tinycore:)

Offline roberts

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7361
  • Founder Emeritus
Re: tinycore_2.2rc1
« Reply #3 on: July 11, 2009, 10:16:13 PM »
All 2.6 linux kernels start the boot process by using initramfs. During the boot process a pivot root to a real root filesystem occurs, typically on a hard drive. Rob Landley first documented how one could create a root filesystem that resides solely in initramfs. Usually this method is deployed in embedded systems. In all versions of Tiny Core up to version 2.1, we booted a complete root filesystem from an initramfs.

Note that initramfs does not have a preset size. Therefore doing a 'df' command on the root filesystem would return 0. This caused problems with certain application installations, as part of their setup required a check to see if there was enough room to successfully complete the install.

It was requested in the forums to 'solve' this df return 0 issue.

To accomodate this request, I created a tmpfs filesystem of set size of 90% of free ram. Then I had to copy over all the files on the initramfs to the new tmpfs, and switch root to point to the new location of tmpfs. This is an overhead to perform such copy and effectively requires more initial ram as the copy takes place (2 set of files during copy). The end result effects the desired result, The 'df' command reports on free space available and now such applications successfuly install.

Some of the community where still not happy, as now we have higher ram requirement and slightly slower boot time, so for those who do not need free space reporting, can choose to use our original boot method of staying on the initramfs, i..e, embedded mode. Hence the 'embed' boot option.

« Last Edit: July 11, 2009, 10:20:15 PM by roberts »
10+ Years Contributing to Linux Open Source Projects.

Offline Juanito

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 14516
Re: tinycore_2.2rc1
« Reply #4 on: July 12, 2009, 03:05:04 AM »
'tested the "embed" boot option:
Code: [Select]
$ free [without embed]
              total         used         free       shared      buffers
  Mem:      2065712        38836      2026876            0         2404
 Swap:            0            0            0
Total:      2065712        38836      2026876
$ free [with embed]
              total         used         free       shared      buffers
  Mem:      2065712        42556      2023156            0         2404
 Swap:            0            0            0
Total:      2065712        42556      2023156

..so, about 4mb difference for me, but anyway I'm not planning on using "embed"  :)

Offline curaga

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10957
Re: tinycore_2.2rc1
« Reply #5 on: July 12, 2009, 03:18:57 AM »
Did you drop caches?
The only barriers that can stop you are the ones you create yourself.

Offline Juanito

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 14516
Re: tinycore_2.2rc1
« Reply #6 on: July 12, 2009, 03:22:21 AM »
eh?

Offline curaga

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10957
The only barriers that can stop you are the ones you create yourself.