iB::Topic::Need more memory...

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Topic: Need more memory..., How to achieve that?

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QmQ

Group: Members
Posts: 17
Joined: May 2005

Posted: July 31 2005,10:27

I've discovered that DSL has a slight problem when it comes to low memory computers. (or at least mine low memory computers).
The thing is I have a Laptop (COMPAQ Armada E300) with 128MB of RAM and when I try to run DSL with toram + gcc1.dsl (no matter whether I remaster with the .DSL file on the CD or load it manually) the computer comes to to complete hold (OK, one in five times it manages to go to runlevel 1). I've put the post here for I have also verified this on a PC.
I know that's memory's the issue cause on my 'big' PC [512MB] everything's fine.
Moreover, I know that it's not specificly GCC. For example Frozen Bubble is 18MB (GCC is 15) and it also hangs the computer up when in toram mode [in normal mode it's OK, though trying to load both GCC and Frozen Bubble causes the hang again

]

How can I get more memmory? I just want DSL in toram with gcc! That's all. I need no sound and other extra stuff.
I don't even need X provided that I'm left with 2 consoles (bashes or whatever to call it) and some normal editor (not vi, I hate vi :P )
What to do?

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--=[ QmQ ]=--

mikshaw

Group: Members
Posts: 4856
Joined: July 2004

Posted: July 31 2005,14:19

1) Add more RAM to your machine (one of the easiest hardware upgrades to do, provided the new ram is compatable with the old and with the motherboard).

or

2) Create a swap partition or swap file on your harddrive. This will act in a similar fashion to ram, although a little more slowly.

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http://www.tldp.org/LDP/intro-linux/html/index.html

QmQ

Group: Members
Posts: 17
Joined: May 2005

Posted: July 31 2005,14:48

I can't do neighter - it's a company laptop... :/
The idea was for me to have a working Linux under which I could write C++ programs for I prefer using Linux to Windows when it comes to coding.
I'm not really allowed to alter anything in it [company policy] - they treat us like idiots you know. I can just "use it". So you see... That's not the way. If 'twas mine I'd just install Linux there

Is there no other way? Maybe some cheatcode to remove things that load at boot? [like sound and forth]

BTW, how to check memory state in text-mode? What command?

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--=[ QmQ ]=--

mikshaw

Group: Members
Posts: 4856
Joined: July 2004

Posted: July 31 2005,15:09

The command to check your ram is "free". The output would be something like this:

Code Sample

total used free shared buffers cached
Mem: 255880 251932 3948 0 94456 55588
-/+ buffers/cache: 101888 153992
Swap: 1052104 4596 1047508

...except that it would probably look neater than that in a console =o)
The "used" and "free" amounts included cached memory, which is freed when needed, but currently stores previously-used data for quick retrieval.

I can't think of any other way to increase the base amount of memory/swap available without changing the system, but there are a few boot options available to limit what is loaded. Check out the boot/F2 file, or press F2 at the boot prompt.

EDIT: changed F3 to F2

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http://www.tldp.org/LDP/intro-linux/html/index.html