[split] Possible To Load Snakeoil OS in RAM

[wxrbbs]

Suggestion: Is it possible to run programs in memory, or even run the system in memory (such as ramroot)? Currently, after implementing memory-resident operation for mpd, upmpdcli, and diretta, the sound quality has improved significantly. Therefore, have you considered developing in this direction?

root@wxrbbsroon:~# ps aux | grep upmpdcli
upmpdcli    1393  0.1  0.1 1068028 10536 ?       Ssl  15:38   0:01 /run/upmpdcli/upmpdcli -c /var/www/scratch/upmpdcli.conf -D
upmpdcli    1404  0.0  0.4  85200 36480 ?        S    15:38   0:00 python3 /usr/share/upmpdcli/cdplugins/uprcl/uprcl-app.py
root       13386  0.0  0.0   6544  2176 pts/2    S+   15:51   0:00 grep --color=auto upmpdcli

root@wxrbbsroon:~# ps aux | grep mpd
root        1314  0.0  0.0   7340  3328 ?        S    15:37   0:00 /usr/bin/bash -c cd /var/www/;_NAME="wxrbbs" _OUTPUT="hw:0: Diretta3FF0 [TargetApp_0000,0: TargetApp_0000" _FORMAT="pcm" _OPTIONS=""  /var/www/music_players/mpd-v23/init /var/www/music_players/mpd-v23 2>&1;/var/www/music_players/mpd-v23/start /var/www/music_players/mpd-v23 2>&1;
root        1321  0.4  0.2 439440 17904 ?        Sl   15:37   0:03 /run/mpd/mpd-v23/mpd --no-daemon /var/www/scratch/mpd.conf
upmpdcli    1393  0.1  0.1 1068028 10536 ?       Ssl  15:38   0:01 /run/upmpdcli/upmpdcli -c /var/www/scratch/upmpdcli.conf -D
upmpdcli    1404  0.0  0.4  85200 36480 ?        S    15:38   0:00 python3 /usr/share/upmpdcli/cdplugins/uprcl/uprcl-app.py
root       13501  0.0  0.0   6544  2304 pts/2    S+   15:51   0:00 grep --color=auto mpd

root@wxrbbsroon:~# ps aux | grep ssyncAlsa_gcc14_x64_v1
root         912  3.6  0.0  94084  3584 ?        Ssl  15:37   0:31 /run/ssyn/ssyncAlsa_gcc14_x64_v1
root       13646  0.0  0.0   6680  2432 pts/2    S+   15:51   0:00 grep --color=auto ssyncAlsa_gcc14_x64_v1

[agent_kith]

Suggestion: Is it possible to run programs in memory, or even run the system in memory (such as ramroot)? Currently, after implementing memory-resident operation for mpd, upmpdcli, and diretta, the sound quality has improved significantly. Therefore, have you considered developing in this direction?

As in load the OS in memory? Technically it can be done just that it requires some advanced networking configuration (e.g. setting up a TFTP server, and configure your computer to boot from network). Doing so it means you can boot your machine without any HDD/SSD.

I have a blog talking about it here: PxE booting.

Video of diskless setup.

[carlodim]

Suggestion: Is it possible to run programs in memory, or even run the system in memory (such as ramroot)? Currently, after implementing memory-resident operation for mpd, upmpdcli, and diretta, the sound quality has improved significantly. Therefore, have you considered developing in this direction?

Yes, interesting. AudioLinux offers this option:

7) With ramroot option you can load the entire system to RAM for a record reactivity and general performance. This way you can run a system without drives

[agent_kith]

Suggestion: Is it possible to run programs in memory, or even run the system in memory (such as ramroot)? Currently, after implementing memory-resident operation for mpd, upmpdcli, and diretta, the sound quality has improved significantly. Therefore, have you considered developing in this direction?

Yes, interesting. AudioLinux offers this option:

7) With ramroot option you can load the entire system to RAM for a record reactivity and general performance. This way you can run a system without drives

Ramroot is slightly different from PxE booting though. With PxE booting you can do so with any Linux operating systems. Ramroot is designed for Arch Linux but may work with other Linux distros....

Guess I can investigate how Arch Linux works with Snakeoil, and if it's good, maybe migrate over? Something in the medium to long term I guess.

[hkphantomgtr]

Suggestion: Is it possible to run programs in memory, or even run the system in memory (such as ramroot)? Currently, after implementing memory-resident operation for mpd, upmpdcli, and diretta, the sound quality has improved significantly. Therefore, have you considered developing in this direction?

Yes, interesting. AudioLinux offers this option:

7) With ramroot option you can load the entire system to RAM for a record reactivity and general performance. This way you can run a system without drives

Ramroot is slightly different from PxE booting though. With PxE booting you can do so with any Linux operating systems. Ramroot is designed for Arch Linux but may work with other Linux distros....

Guess I can investigate how Arch Linux works with Snakeoil, and if it's good, maybe migrate over? Something in the medium to long term I guess.

Please excuse for a layman question...... does PxE booting also can boot without a boot disc?  So the whole OS is already in the RAM?

[agent_kith]

Please excuse for a layman question...... does PxE booting also can boot without a boot disc?  So the whole OS is already in the RAM?

Yes. That's the idea, one less SSD running on the machine means less load on the PSU. And faster since everything is running in RAM.

You can look at this article for a general idea, and look up the Internet for more resources on how to do this.

[Snoopy8]

With PxE booting you can do so with any Linux operating systems.

I tried setting up PxE and it required many moving parts : Bios of NUC, NAS to enable service, store image and Router for PxE server.  Plus creating iso of the SO instance. Each required its own setup, with information all over the place and often generic.

Did not get it going. Setting up PxE is far too hard for me...

[agent_kith]

With PxE booting you can do so with any Linux operating systems.

I tried setting up PxE and it required many moving parts : Bios of NUC, NAS to enable service, store image and Router for PxE server.  Plus creating iso of the SO instance. Each required its own setup, with information all over the place and often generic.

Did not get it going. Setting up PxE is far too hard for me...

Yeah, it's quite involved. Most typical routers' DNS server probably do not have a tftp setting so it either means you need a more specialised router (I was using pfSense, Untangle and Unifi). Thing is, I'm not sure if it's even worth documenting this down - as doing this is somewhat complex and may be too difficult for first time users.

But I guess, if there's enough interest, maybe? Or we can use kernel boot options and load the OS into RAM, this will still require onsite storage though.

[Snoopy8]

But I guess, if there's enough interest, maybe? Or we can use kernel boot options and load the OS into RAM, this will still require onsite storage though.

Yes, I am interested and I think @wxrbbs @carlodim @hkphantomgtr will also be.

[Snoopy8]

If SO can be loaded into memory, then for the Pi5, am I correct in saying that there is no longer an advantage to use NVME/SSD over microSD? If so, then another reason to pursue this enhancement ...