Tiny Core Linux
Tiny Core Base => TCB Q&A Forum => Topic started by: malicske on August 18, 2011, 03:46:44 PM
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Hello,
This is another thread for improving boot times. I hope you are not tired of it yet!
I need a distro with firefox, alsa and flash. I also included Xfce4
I've looked around this forum and on the internet and have undertaken the following:
1) Remasterd tiny core, extract all the extensions into the tinycore.gz (60MB)
2) added tiny core boot codes: embed noswap quiet noicons host=lichtSystem user=licht kmap=be-latin1 tce=sda6/tcSX
3) added kernel boot codes: noapm hda=none hdb=none hdc=none hdd=none floppy=none noisapnp nofirewire nopcmcia
Results:
-1) tiny core base default: 10s
0) tiny core with all extensions downloaded, installed via: onboot.lst: 19s
1) remastering: 17s
2) boot codes: 14s (the tce=xyz did miracles!)
3) kernel boot codes 13s
I would like to get it below 5s. But under 10 is also good.
Are there any suggestions?
From what I see, booting the kernel takes a while. Takes up to 7s, while booting my kernel in debian takes 3,5s.
I'm using a dell laptop, core 2 due 2,2 GHz and 4Gb of ram. My disk can read upto 75MB/s
Thank you
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you can try using a persistent local on your harddrive. That way you are just booting the base and mounting the drive location to the /usr/local directory.
There is also the tclocal=/mnt/sda1 boot code that should do this for you. One note, you lose the fresh restart state of TC since the /usr/local directory is persistent.
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If you're not on 3.8.2 yet, do update, it boots faster. The kernel part of the boot is significantly improved in 4.x, too.
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If you're not on 3.8.2 yet, do update, it boots faster. The kernel part of the boot is significantly improved in 4.x, too.
Thx for the tip, running a remaster now with 3.8.2 and will test it this evening and come back with a timing.
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If you're not on 3.8.2 yet, do update, it boots faster. The kernel part of the boot is significantly improved in 4.x, too.
Thx for the tip, running a remaster now with 3.8.2 and will test it this evening and come back with a timing.
It seems I was already on the 3.8.2 so no improvement there.
A little update:
Remastered with the 3.8.4 and added a new boot parameter a received from a member: floppy=0,irq
What I have now:
** TC 3.8.4 remastered with: alsa, firefox, flash, wireless, wl, xfce4, xfi, leafpad, ntfs-3g, xarchiver, zip, unrar, gparted and openssh. => size: 66,6 MB
** Boot code: noapm hda=none hdb=none hdc=none hdd=none floppy=0,irq noisapnp nofirewire nopcmcia embed noswap quiet host=lichtSystem kmap=be-latin1 tce=sda1/tce
Final boot time: <9s
So my first objective complete, distro boots faster then 10s!!! Ready to go www
Who knows, some person may get something from this info ;)
Thanks guys, very nice distro. I have been playing around with slitaz lately wich also has a nice structure and very small!! (lzma) But I find the modular approach and the persistence waaaay more advanced, easier and practical. Just saying :-)
On the other hand, slitaz has a very small 30 mb iso, with a full workable and nice looking distro. Which is also nice :-)
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Uhm, where do you find boot code like "noisapnp nofirewire nopcmcia" ? :P
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Hi vinnie
This is where I usually check when looking for information about boot codes:
http://www.mjmwired.net/kernel/Documentation/kernel-parameters.txt (http://www.mjmwired.net/kernel/Documentation/kernel-parameters.txt)
It does list noisapnp, but I don't see the other two. The documentation for the hd= codes is a
bit skimpy, I have my doubts as to whether "none" is considered a valid parameter.
@All: On more than one occasion I've seen people try to use boot codes that don't show up in any
documentation. Just entering noide because you know what it means does not mean the
kernel will act on it. If none of the modules use that boot code, it will be silently ignored.
Also, a module may or may not return an error message if you supply invalid parameters
for a boot code, so be sure of your syntax.
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uhm, ok, thanks for code rich :o
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Uhm, where do you find boot code like "noisapnp nofirewire nopcmcia" ? :P
I looked at the boot, see it looking for pnp and not finding it, loosing 2 secs boot time. Searching the web trying nopnp, didn't work then see it was isa, so using noisapnp.
Applying that to other hardware :-) and looking on the internet for other possibilities.
But the post of Rich is true. I did not investigate it enough to see if these bootparameters all work and are correct.
So thank you for your addition Rich!
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Sorry to bring this back up but you might want to recompile the kernel with just what you need as well.
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FWIW, in 4.x we ship the ubuntu patches that make isapnp async.
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Sorry to bring this back up but you might want to recompile the kernel with just what you need as well.
Good Idea. Where can I find a HOW TO ? (for TCL)
My target:
- only variable usb (I have a PCMIA card and integrated USB; but put USB card reader or multi USB for connecting an USB camera sometimes)
- the rest is FIX (HDDs, CFs on IDE, CDROM, RAM, Grafic, sound)
I would put in any case a "safety" version of TCL-"Standard" in the boot menu in case I would change something in the PC (then the kernel would not boot)
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I don't know if there is any documentation but I would start by downloading the linux sources, configure, and compile(fairly simple), and remaster TC(haven't tried). You'll need gcc, make, patch, and some other packages. I wish it was easier. Here's a good starting point: http://www.h-online.com/open/features/Good-and-quick-kernel-configuration-creation-1403046.html (http://www.h-online.com/open/features/Good-and-quick-kernel-configuration-creation-1403046.html). Your mileage may vary. I'll be doing this in the next week or 2 so if you run into any problems, just post. We'll get it done together.
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Hi tweetyhack
You'll need gcc, make, patch, and some other packages.
Please don't try to patch together the tools you need, install compiletc.tcz if you wish to compile
source code.
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I'll be doing this in the next week or 2 so if you run into any problems, just post. We'll get it done together.
Thanks for the proposal. No hurry. This is only on my todo list for my desktop.
My first priority is currently making working (again) the front mic of a K51AE (ASUS notebook) with Ubuntu10.04 for skyping with family oversea (NO chance to move to TCL.. this is my wife notebook).
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Thanks for the tip Rich.
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I don't know if there is any documentation but I would start by downloading the linux sources, configure, and compile(fairly simple), and remaster TC(haven't tried). You'll need gcc, make, patch, and some other packages. I wish it was easier. Here's a good starting point: http://www.h-online.com/open/features/Good-and-quick-kernel-configuration-creation-1403046.html. (http://www.h-online.com/open/features/Good-and-quick-kernel-configuration-creation-1403046.html.) Your mileage may vary. I'll be doing this in the next week or 2 so if you run into any problems, just post. We'll get it done together.
thanks.
lets start..
done: load compiletc.tcz
then in a terminal "make localmodconfig" gives the message
make: *** No rule to make target ' localmodconfig'. Stop.
any Idea how to go ahead?..
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Hi floppy
So far you only downloaded the tools required to compile a program. You still need to download
the kernel source file and the config file that goes with it. The TC4.x sources are located here:
http://distro.ibiblio.org/tinycorelinux/4.x/x86/release/src/kernel/ (http://distro.ibiblio.org/tinycorelinux/4.x/x86/release/src/kernel/)
After you unpack the kernel source you should check that the localmodconfig file is included in the
package.
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After you unpack the kernel source you should check that the localmodconfig file is included in the
package.
done: kernel unpacked (in directory /home/temp/linux-3.0.3/)
done: compiletc loaded
"ln -s /home/temp/linux-3.0.3/ /home/temp/linux"
"cd /home/temp/"
"cd linux"
"make localmodconfig" .. error
========================
HOSTCC scripts/basic/fixdep
gcc: internal compiler error: Illegal instruction (program cc1)
Please submit a full bug report,
with preprocessed source if appropriate.
See <http://gcc.gnu.org/bugs.html> for instructions.
make [1]: *** [scripts/basic/fixdep] Error4
make: *** [scripts_basic Error 2
=========================
now? (I m totally in the dark.. simply putting a step after the other..)
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Oh, are you trying to do the build on the K6-3? I think the current gcc needed a newer cpu even after a rebuild. But Juanito knows more about that.
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Oh, are you trying to do the build on the K6-3? I think the current gcc needed a newer cpu even after a rebuild. But Juanito knows more about that.
yes. I m trying to make a race horse out of this dunky..
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I don't know if there is any documentation but I would start by downloading the linux sources, configure, and compile(fairly simple), and remaster TC(haven't tried). You'll need gcc, make, patch, and some other packages. I wish it was easier. Here's a good starting point: http://www.h-online.com/open/features/Good-and-quick-kernel-configuration-creation-1403046.html. (http://www.h-online.com/open/features/Good-and-quick-kernel-configuration-creation-1403046.html.) Your mileage may vary. I'll be doing this in the next week or 2 so if you run into any problems, just post. We'll get it done together.
Any results from this testing tweetyhack? Thanks.
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Update/answer:
- since gcc dont run on my old box (see the previous post)
- since I got depressed by installing tc on the pentium4 of a friend.. (it start in 25s.. my box start with the double time)
I am
- installing only games on that AMD K6-III for my children and will not compile a dedicated kernel for it (= I dont follow anymore a boot time improvement project for the AMD K6-III)
- installing now tc on a pentium4 I received today from eBay. perhaps I will start this project again with this new pc
sorry nim108, I will not post a HOWTO here. Perhaps in few months (dont know).
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"(it start in 25s.. my box start with the double time) "
Any chance it's a USB issue (1 vs 2)? I first ran TCL on a Compaq Deskpro, which couldn't boot from USB but I could save the extensions/backup there. Its USB 1 took a while to load (I called it my "beer boot" because I had time to grab a beer while it was loading). My current machine is USB 2 and starts from USB (including boot) in a few seconds. I'm running a small number of extensions though.
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Any chance it's a USB issue (1 vs 2)?
I start from the HDD.
The quickest one has the boot partition: 10GB and udma66; I use the slowest one 6GB and udma33 for the /home.
So, no USB there.
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After you unpack the kernel source you should check that the localmodconfig file is included in the
package.
I start a new try for a kernel compiling with a P4 HP DC7100.
I loaded the kernel-3.0.3-patched and untar it. And the localmodconfig seems not to be there. Where can I find it anywhere else?
(make localmodconfig give the error "make: *** No rule to make target ' localmodconfig' . Stop.").
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News: I reduced the boot time of my P4 (45 to 36s; usb boot) by using a script from "gutmensch" in that forum.
Gooooooddddddd.
So, i search now the link from the Mr. Gutmensch post (reduction/adaptation of the initramfs for a dedicated pc) and will add it here when I find it again. I will not try anymore a new kernel compiling.
If I dont post here the link, ask him with a message where his squizzing-script (time and initramfs) is.
edit: here it is http://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php/topic,9028.0.html!
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Great script, strangely the link did not work until I found the page by himself, but if I click now it works.
I'll try just after updating tinycore (actually I have a little fear to upgrade because I would not lose the functionality of those programs that depend on the kernel like vbox)
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Yes, virtualbox doesn't have 3.0.21 modules in the repo yet.
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Other sucess: with http://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php/topic,9028.0.html! , my AMD K6 improved its boot time between "desktop on button pushed" and "screen background there" from 124s to 103s. Good. So, I made now a new menu entry in grub "Core K6 speed boot". I dont change every week the desktop structure/cards, so, this process of squeezing the initramfs can be recommended after few weeks/months of a TinyCore installation.
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Yes, virtualbox doesn't have 3.0.21 modules in the repo yet.
O.t. i find this:
http://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php/topic,12863.msg70590.html#msg70590
I checked, all other modules that I use seem to have been updated
during Easter probably I will be busy! ;)