How to use zRam.

[then00b]

And what are the benefits of using it?

[JanetBiggar]

Hi then00b,
I imagine others will comment, I'm a newbie, however I found this article helpful in explaining zRAM and swap.  Go to this link then in the search bar put: Speed up your Mint! (Yes, I know we're LL 3.4/3.6  :

https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/3

Hope it helps,
Janet

[Moltke]

And what are the benefits of using it?

zRAM is intended for using in those machines with 2gb or less of RAM, actually you'd get better results and/or see any performance improvement with 1gb of RAM. If you have more than 2gb of RAM it doesn't worth the time since you won't see much of a difference regarding performance, in fact, and according to what I've read,  you'd probably see a decrease of it.
Hope this helps!

[then00b]

[quote author=then00b link=topic=4852.msg36795#msg36795 date=1511206138]
And what are the benefits of using it?

zRAM is intended for using in those machines with 2gb or less of RAM, actually you'd get better results and/or see any performance improvement with 1gb of RAM. If you have more than 2gb of RAM it doesn't worth the time since you won't see much of a difference regarding performance, in fact, and according to what I've read,  you'd probably see a decrease of it.
Hope this helps!
[/quote]

Oh I see, I have 4GB on this laptop. So, using it will have no any effect?

[then00b]

Hi then00b,
I imagine others will comment, I'm a newbie, however I found this article helpful in explaining zRAM and swap.  Go to this link then in the search bar put: Speed up your Mint! (Yes, I know we're LL 3.4/3.6  :

https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/3

Hope it helps,
Janet

Thanks!

[JanetBiggar]

[quote author=then00b link=topic=4852.msg36795#msg36795 date=1511206138]
And what are the benefits of using it?

zRAM is intended for using in those machines with 2gb or less of RAM, actually you'd get better results and/or see any performance improvement with 1gb of RAM. If you have more than 2gb of RAM it doesn't worth the time since you won't see much of a difference regarding performance, in fact, and according to what I've read,  you'd probably see a decrease of it.
Hope this helps!
[/quote]

Moltke a bunch of the computers I am working on have 2 GB RAM so given that the RAM is at the top end of the range “do I” or “don’t I” use zRAM to help performance..?

Thanks, Janet

[rokytnji]

I run and set up zram on a IBM T23 laptop with 512MB of ram and a Pentium 3 CPU. My steps I showed  though were lost when Antix forums went from tapatalk to wordpress forums though.

You folks with newer computers . Have no need for zram IMO.


Link

[rokytnji]

[quote author=Moltke link=topic=4852.msg36823#msg36823 date=1511301290]
[quote author=then00b link=topic=4852.msg36795#msg36795 date=1511206138]
And what are the benefits of using it?

zRAM is intended for using in those machines with 2gb or less of RAM, actually you'd get better results and/or see any performance improvement with 1gb of RAM. If you have more than 2gb of RAM it doesn't worth the time since you won't see much of a difference regarding performance, in fact, and according to what I've read,  you'd probably see a decrease of it.
Hope this helps!
[/quote]

Moltke a bunch of the computers I am working on have 2 GB RAM so given that the RAM is at the top end of the range “do I” or “don’t I” use zRAM to help performance..?

Thanks, Janet
[/quote]

My stats on 2.4 LL with firefox 57 and whole lot going on.
You won't have what I show as a command because I installed this manually. It is not a stock Linux Lite application.

Code:

harry@biker1:~$ sudo -i
[sudo] password for harry:
root@biker1:~# ps_mem.py
Private  +   Shared  =  RAM used    Program

140.0 KiB +  31.0 KiB = 171.0 KiB    gnome-pty-helper
156.0 KiB +  19.5 KiB = 175.5 KiB    acpid
152.0 KiB +  28.0 KiB = 180.0 KiB    atd
184.0 KiB +  17.5 KiB = 201.5 KiB    sh
172.0 KiB +  30.5 KiB = 202.5 KiB    gdomap
216.0 KiB +  51.0 KiB = 267.0 KiB    cron
240.0 KiB +  42.0 KiB = 282.0 KiB    upstart-udev-bridge
268.0 KiB +  46.0 KiB = 314.0 KiB    rtkit-daemon
272.0 KiB +  47.0 KiB = 319.0 KiB    upstart-event-bridge
360.0 KiB +  17.5 KiB = 377.5 KiB    ssh-agent
308.0 KiB + 177.0 KiB = 485.0 KiB    upstart-dbus-bridge (2)
548.0 KiB +  29.5 KiB = 577.5 KiB    upstart-socket-bridge
484.0 KiB + 126.0 KiB = 610.0 KiB    dbus-launch (2)
556.0 KiB +  72.0 KiB = 628.0 KiB    systemd-logind [updated]
492.0 KiB + 145.5 KiB = 637.5 KiB    at-spi-bus-launcher
516.0 KiB + 132.5 KiB = 648.5 KiB    obex-data-server
620.0 KiB +  61.5 KiB = 681.5 KiB    dnsmasq [updated]
540.0 KiB + 144.0 KiB = 684.0 KiB    redshift
536.0 KiB + 151.5 KiB = 687.5 KiB    at-spi2-registryd
556.0 KiB + 151.0 KiB = 707.0 KiB    ibus-engine-simple
640.0 KiB + 154.5 KiB = 794.5 KiB    ibus-dconf
624.0 KiB + 182.0 KiB = 806.0 KiB    gvfsd-network
352.0 KiB + 456.0 KiB = 808.0 KiB    avahi-daemon (2)
720.0 KiB + 105.5 KiB = 825.5 KiB    gvfsd-metadata
688.0 KiB + 203.0 KiB = 891.0 KiB    getty (6)
820.0 KiB + 166.0 KiB = 986.0 KiB    gvfsd-trash
  1.0 MiB +  47.0 KiB =   1.0 MiB    bluetoothd
844.0 KiB + 288.0 KiB =   1.1 MiB    gvfsd (2)
920.0 KiB + 310.0 KiB =   1.2 MiB    upowerd
936.0 KiB + 301.0 KiB =   1.2 MiB    xfconfd (3)
  1.1 MiB + 167.5 KiB =   1.2 MiB    gconfd-2
  1.0 MiB + 199.0 KiB =   1.2 MiB    upstart-file-bridge (2)
  1.2 MiB +  53.5 KiB =   1.2 MiB    rsyslogd
  1.0 MiB + 195.5 KiB =   1.2 MiB    deja-dup-monitor
932.0 KiB + 361.5 KiB =   1.3 MiB    indicator-application-service
976.0 KiB + 333.5 KiB =   1.3 MiB    ntpd
776.0 KiB + 556.0 KiB =   1.3 MiB    cups-browsed
  1.2 MiB + 156.0 KiB =   1.3 MiB    xscreensaver
  1.3 MiB +  69.0 KiB =   1.4 MiB    systemd-udevd
  1.2 MiB + 279.0 KiB =   1.5 MiB    sudo
  1.4 MiB + 577.5 KiB =   2.0 MiB    cupsd
  1.7 MiB + 299.5 KiB =   2.0 MiB    gnome-keyring-daemon
  1.8 MiB + 252.0 KiB =   2.0 MiB    udisksd
  1.7 MiB + 500.0 KiB =   2.2 MiB    xfce4-power-manager
  1.6 MiB + 640.0 KiB =   2.2 MiB    xfce4-volumed
  1.8 MiB + 422.0 KiB =   2.2 MiB    init (3)
  1.7 MiB + 563.0 KiB =   2.3 MiB    xfce4-session
  1.6 MiB + 705.5 KiB =   2.3 MiB    lightdm (2)
  1.8 MiB + 455.5 KiB =   2.3 MiB    wpa_supplicant [updated]
  1.6 MiB + 758.5 KiB =   2.3 MiB    nmbd
  1.6 MiB + 763.0 KiB =   2.3 MiB    panel-6-systray
  2.4 MiB + 103.0 KiB =   2.5 MiB    sbscheduler
  1.7 MiB + 800.0 KiB =   2.5 MiB    light-locker
  2.5 MiB +  78.0 KiB =   2.5 MiB    dconf-service
  2.7 MiB + 179.0 KiB =   2.9 MiB    gvfsd-computer
  2.9 MiB +  25.0 KiB =   2.9 MiB    dhclient
  2.9 MiB + 197.0 KiB =   3.1 MiB    accounts-daemon
  2.9 MiB + 289.0 KiB =   3.2 MiB    gvfs-mtp-volume-monitor (2)
  2.5 MiB + 874.5 KiB =   3.3 MiB    NetworkManager
  3.1 MiB + 474.0 KiB =   3.6 MiB    gvfs-gphoto2-volume-monitor (2)
  2.6 MiB +   1.1 MiB =   3.7 MiB    xfwm4
  3.1 MiB + 725.0 KiB =   3.8 MiB    dbus-daemon (5)
  3.5 MiB + 489.0 KiB =   4.0 MiB    ibus-x11
  3.3 MiB +   1.0 MiB =   4.4 MiB    panel-14-batter
  3.3 MiB +   1.1 MiB =   4.4 MiB    xfce4-brightness-plugin
  4.6 MiB + 168.0 KiB =   4.7 MiB    gvfsd-dnssd
  4.5 MiB + 414.0 KiB =   4.9 MiB    pulseaudio
  4.3 MiB + 566.5 KiB =   4.9 MiB    xfsettingsd
  4.0 MiB +   1.4 MiB =   5.5 MiB    polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1
  5.1 MiB + 484.0 KiB =   5.6 MiB    gvfs-afc-volume-monitor (2)
  6.0 MiB + 141.0 KiB =   6.2 MiB    polkitd
  5.9 MiB + 466.5 KiB =   6.4 MiB    indicator-sound-service
  6.2 MiB + 244.0 KiB =   6.4 MiB    colord
  6.4 MiB + 219.5 KiB =   6.6 MiB    ModemManager
  5.3 MiB +   1.5 MiB =   6.8 MiB    xfce4-panel
  5.2 MiB +   2.0 MiB =   7.2 MiB    panel-13-weathe
  5.3 MiB +   2.0 MiB =   7.2 MiB    panel-5-indicat
  6.6 MiB +   1.1 MiB =   7.7 MiB    bash (4)
  7.8 MiB + 150.5 KiB =   8.0 MiB    ibus-daemon
  8.2 MiB + 709.0 KiB =   8.9 MiB    gvfs-udisks2-volume-monitor (2)
  8.2 MiB +   1.2 MiB =   9.4 MiB    ibus-ui-gtk3
  7.6 MiB +   1.9 MiB =   9.5 MiB    applet.py
  9.1 MiB + 428.0 KiB =   9.5 MiB    gvfsd-fuse (2)
  8.6 MiB +   1.1 MiB =   9.6 MiB    xfdesktop
  6.1 MiB +   5.0 MiB =  11.1 MiB    smbd (3)
  6.1 MiB +   5.1 MiB =  11.3 MiB    panel-1-whisker
  7.9 MiB +   3.4 MiB =  11.3 MiB    xfce4-terminal
12.5 MiB + 921.5 KiB =  13.4 MiB    tumblerd
12.2 MiB +   1.3 MiB =  13.5 MiB    gtk-redshift
13.5 MiB + 699.0 KiB =  14.2 MiB    python3.4
12.3 MiB +   2.3 MiB =  14.6 MiB    nm-applet
12.3 MiB +   3.9 MiB =  16.3 MiB    blueman-applet
12.8 MiB +   5.9 MiB =  18.6 MiB    Thunar
29.1 MiB +   6.3 MiB =  35.5 MiB    Xorg [updated]
251.5 MiB +  31.8 MiB = 283.3 MiB    firefox
273.3 MiB +  61.5 MiB = 334.8 MiB    Web Content (2)
---------------------------------
                          1.0 GiB
=================================
Warning: Swap is not reported by this system.

See. I am not even close to the 2 gig of ram  on this laptop. I am not doing and video editing though. Just a normal Linux session for a normal beginner Linux Lite User session running Firefox and XFCE < tons of addons in my xfce session>

The swap message above is because I run a SSD drive out of a older apple computer and I don't trust the drive to last with swap enabled.

Code:

harry@biker1:~$ sudo parted -l
[sudo] password for harry:
Model: ATA APPLE SSD SM128 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 121GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt

Number  Start   End     Size    File system  Name  Flags
1      1049kB  9438MB  9437MB  ext4
2      9438MB  121GB   112GB   ext3

[Moltke]

[quote author=Moltke link=topic=4852.msg36823#msg36823 date=1511301290]
[quote author=then00b link=topic=4852.msg36795#msg36795 date=1511206138]
And what are the benefits of using it?

zRAM is intended for using in those machines with 2gb or less of RAM, actually you'd get better results and/or see any performance improvement with 1gb of RAM. If you have more than 2gb of RAM it doesn't worth the time since you won't see much of a difference regarding performance, in fact, and according to what I've read,  you'd probably see a decrease of it.
Hope this helps!
[/quote]

Moltke a bunch of the computers I am working on have 2 GB RAM so given that the RAM is at the top end of the range “do I” or “don’t I” use zRAM to help performance..?

Thanks, Janet
[/quote]

i [member=7067]JanetBiggar[/member]
Well, like I said it's intended for machines with 2gb of RAM or less, in any case, I'd say go for it and if you don't get the desired results regarding performance improvement then you can simply deactivate it again. And lite tweaks tool says it's completely safe so you shouldn't be getting any side effects. Also, you'd want to read this post which might be of help on deciding whether to use zRAM or not in your particular case.
Hope this helps!

[Moltke]

[quote author=Moltke link=topic=4852.msg36823#msg36823 date=1511301290]
[quote author=then00b link=topic=4852.msg36795#msg36795 date=1511206138]
And what are the benefits of using it?

zRAM is intended for using in those machines with 2gb or less of RAM, actually you'd get better results and/or see any performance improvement with 1gb of RAM. If you have more than 2gb of RAM it doesn't worth the time since you won't see much of a difference regarding performance, in fact, and according to what I've read,  you'd probably see a decrease of it.
Hope this helps!
[/quote]

Oh I see, I have 4GB on this laptop. So, using it will have no any effect?
[/quote]

hi [member=6081]then00b[/member]
My pc has 4gb of RAM too, when I first found the zRAM feature in Lite Tweaks tool in LL I also wondered whether to use it or not, after doing some reading about it I learned that apparently in my case as in yours with 4gb of RAM  zRAM would make not difference if any at all. However, you could try and see how it goes, it's completely safe to use it so you shouldn't be getting any side effects from doing it, so I guess it's up to you. I haven't use it since I found LL pretty fast and quite responsive. I did activate preload, The benefit is that preloaded applications start more quickly because reading from the RAM is always quicker than from the hard drive. From the wikipedia: "preload is a free Linux program which runs as a daemon to record statistics about usage of files by more frequently-used programs. This information is then used to keep these files preloaded into memory. This results in faster application startup times as less data needs to be fetched from disk. preload is often paired with prelink." Also, you might want to read this article which I find particularly helpful when it comes to undestand that Linux is fast, however you can tweak here and there in order to get the responsiveness you're looking for.
Hope this helps!