Tiny Core Linux

Tiny Core Extensions => TCE Q&A Forum => Topic started by: ru60hz on September 07, 2011, 02:25:30 PM

Title: swap file
Post by: ru60hz on September 07, 2011, 02:25:30 PM

Hello,
I did another installation on pentium II, 350 mhz with 256 mb
memory. i used 1 gb ssd compact flash drive connected on ide0
for my frugal installation.
I used another 1 gb ssd cf drive conncted on a usb card reader
for my swap file.
My question is about this http://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php/topic,1514.msg8540.html#msg8540 (http://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php/topic,1514.msg8540.html#msg8540)
what would possibly happen if i continue to use compact flash drive
as a swap file. BTW, as of now i'm experiencing a slow down while
viewing you tube.

your comments and recommendations will be much appreciated

ruel

Title: Re: swap file
Post by: gerald_clark on September 07, 2011, 02:41:20 PM

You should use a non-journalling filesystem on flash.
Swap should be on a real drive, not flash.

Title: Re: swap file
Post by: ru60hz on September 08, 2011, 01:04:31 AM

thanks,

for along time, i got this belief that flash disk
were faster than hard disk due to no moving
( rotating) parts.
i'll try to find my old hard drive, already misplaced.

ruel

Title: Re: swap file
Post by: bmarkus on September 08, 2011, 01:59:26 AM

Quote from: ru60hz on September 07, 2011, 02:25:30 PM

I used another 1 gb ssd cf drive conncted on a usb card reader
for my swap file.

Even if cour cf card fast, it cab be slow doue to card reader, USB connection, etc. You did not specify what is the file system type. Certain types are not optimal for such use. When it is dedicated to swap only, better to use a swap partition instead of file.

Title: Re: swap file
Post by: ru60hz on September 08, 2011, 05:55:42 AM

@ bmarkus
yes i agree with you. btw, i use ext4 on the said cf drive.

actually, i already made a swap partition 400mb on the
 first cfdrive where my frugal installation is. unfortunately
it is not detected. so i decided to connect another cf disk
using usb card reader.

thanks
ruel

Title: Re: swap file
Post by: bmarkus on September 08, 2011, 07:39:02 AM

Did you create sap using mkswap command?

Title: Re: swap file
Post by: curaga on September 08, 2011, 08:36:30 AM

Yeah, the card will die fairly fast if you use it as swap.

Title: Re: swap file
Post by: gerald_clark on September 08, 2011, 12:14:43 PM

ext4 is a journalling filesystem. You should use ext2 on an SD card, and mount with noatime option.

Title: Re: swap file
Post by: ru60hz on September 09, 2011, 01:49:54 AM

Quote from: bmarkus on September 08, 2011, 07:39:02 AM

Did you create sap using mkswap command?

no, i created it on gparted as a swap partition because this is
how i do it on my home computer (home computer is using hard disk)
 what i do now
is reformat it to ext2 according to gerald_clark recommendation
then issue a "mkswap" in the terminal as you said.
then "swapon -a" still it's not detected but after a reboot finally it
was detected. thanks very much for your help.

Quote from: curaga on September 08, 2011, 08:36:30 AM

Yeah, the card will die fairly fast if you use it as swap.

thanks for the reminder, i'll replace it as soon as i find my hard disk.
for now i just wanted to see TC running on pentium II. in my observation,
in you tube it's still slow and skipping frames when i check 'free'
i notice that it's not using swap that much. what could be the problem?

Title: Re: swap file
Post by: curaga on September 09, 2011, 03:02:19 AM

Flash is extremely bad software, uses cpu to no end. It's not surprising it's slow on a computer from that era.

Title: Re: [Solved]swap file
Post by: ru60hz on September 11, 2011, 12:09:37 AM

yes, agree as i have seen it on "top"
i have to stay away from Flash then at least on this
computer.  :)