Tweaking the HD install for speed

**GREGC** · 03-11-2003, 01:39 AM

I use knoppix 3.1 (latest release) and recently discovered fluxbox. Loads almost instantly on my thinkpad 600!

I only have 128 megs of memory, and a 380 meg swap.

Can any deb experts give advice on tweaking for better performance and freeing memory? Any servers not needed to be started?

Any advice would be welcome!

GregC

**rickenbacherus** · 03-11-2003, 05:50 PM

Have you checked out hdparm?

**GREGC** · 03-11-2003, 08:17 PM

I'm pretty sure I have DMA enabled, as I see this listed during boot. Is there a way of checking?

Also, is there a way of freeing up memory as well? I'm so used to tweaking winblows to increase mem and speed...what about linux? With fluxbox loaded and nothing else open, should over 100 megs of memory be used? Is linux that memory hungry?

Hints?

GregC

**rickenbacherus** · 03-11-2003, 09:01 PM

should over 100 megs of memory be used? Is linux that memory hungry?

Don't worry about it - it's only cached and Linux will give it up if necessary.

Can any deb experts give advice on tweaking for better performance and freeing memory?

How would you like to change your IO from 16 to 32 FROM THE COMMAND LINE? How would you like to test and change your throughput? How about unmasking an IRQ?
hdparm is your answer. Type this at the command prompt:

man hdparm

Better yet check out this GREAT article on hdparm:
http://linux.oreillynet.com/pub/a/li...29/hdparm.html

You won't be disappointed.