Re: tmpfs and the VM (Was: Re: questions on page cache and buffers)

Alan Cox (alan@lxorguk.ukuu.org.uk)
Tue, 19 Aug 1997 22:57:07 +0100 (BST)


> This is similar to another feature; using swap as a 'bounce' device for
> slow devices. When pages are read from a slow device, such as a
> CD-ROM, they are not simply disgarded from the page-cache but are written
> to swap. This allows fast(er) re-loading, but makes swap space a bastard
> to manage.

This isnt really similar. The swap one is a case of reading the application
into memory instead of mapping it. That has exactly the right effect and
you only have to diddle with exec. It doesnt solve tmpfs tho

Alan