[Solved] Using a ramdisk for faster port compiling

ring_zero · #1 April 26th, 2012, 16:22

Has anyone tried using a ramdisk for optimized/faster compilation of ports? I added eight GB of RAM to this machine rather whimsically, (it's so cheap now), and am trying to come up with different ways of using it. I liked the idea of a ramdisk to speed up compilation, but I have no idea where to mount it.

**SirDice** · #2 April 26th, 2012, 16:25

Mount it anywhere you like and set WRKDIRPREFIX. See ports(7) what it does.

kpa · #3 April 26th, 2012, 16:26

Mount it somewhere under /var, for example /var/ports/tmp and set the work directory for ports in /etc/make.conf like this:

Code:

WRKDIRPREFIX=/var/ports/tmp

ring_zero · #4 April 26th, 2012, 16:54

Works rather well. Thanks.

cabriofahrer · #5 June 15th, 2012, 09:26

Sounds interesting, but I don't understand why with the above given path in /var the work directory is moved into RAM? What am I missing?

**SirDice** · #6 June 15th, 2012, 09:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by cabriofahrer

Sounds interesting, but I don't understand why with the above given path in /var the work directory is moved into RAM? What am I missing?

/var/ports/tmp/ is the mountpoint where the RAM disk is mounted on. But it's just an example. You can mount it anywhere you like as long as WRKDIRPREFIX points to it.

**DutchDaemon** · #7 June 15th, 2012, 11:32

I'll give you one local example:

/etc/fstab

Code:

tmpfs			/staging	tmpfs	rw		0	0

/etc/make.conf

Code:

WRKDIRPREFIX=/staging

That's all you need.

df -h

Code:

tmpfs           9.9G    4.0k    9.9G     0%    /staging

ls -ld /staging

Code:

drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel  40 Jun 15 12:19 /staging

Just ran make on a test port with some dependencies to show what happens:

$ find /staging -type d

Code:

/staging
/staging/usr
/staging/usr/ports
/staging/usr/ports/misc
/staging/usr/ports/misc/unclutter
/staging/usr/ports/misc/unclutter/work
/staging/usr/ports/misc/unclutter/work/unclutter
/staging/usr/ports/devel
/staging/usr/ports/devel/imake
/staging/usr/ports/devel/imake/work
/staging/usr/ports/devel/imake/work/imake-1.0.4
/staging/usr/ports/devel/imake/work/imake-1.0.4/.deps
/staging/usr/ports/devel/gccmakedep
/staging/usr/ports/devel/gccmakedep/work
/staging/usr/ports/devel/gccmakedep/work/gccmakedep-1.0.2
/staging/usr/ports/devel/makedepend
/staging/usr/ports/devel/makedepend/work
/staging/usr/ports/devel/makedepend/work/makedepend-1.0.3
/staging/usr/ports/devel/makedepend/work/makedepend-1.0.3/tests
/staging/usr/ports/devel/makedepend/work/makedepend-1.0.3/tests/28045
/staging/usr/ports/devel/makedepend/work/makedepend-1.0.3/.deps
/staging/usr/ports/x11
/staging/usr/ports/x11/xorg-cf-files
/staging/usr/ports/x11/xorg-cf-files/work
/staging/usr/ports/x11/xorg-cf-files/work/xorg-cf-files-1.0.4

**wblock@** · #8 June 15th, 2012, 15:18

Time a big port compile both from RAM and off disk. Reboot before each to clear filesystem cache. With buildworld, I found essentially zero difference putting /usr/obj in a tmpfs.

**DutchDaemon** · #9 June 15th, 2012, 15:28

I like my SSD's too much ;p)

**wblock@** · #10 June 15th, 2012, 15:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by DutchDaemon

I like my SSD's too much ;p)

That's an interesting point. Certainly those multiple builds of LibreOffice didn't do mine any good.

**DutchDaemon** · #11 June 15th, 2012, 15:58

In fact, all of my caches (browsers, etc.) are on a tmpfs as well.

sim · #12 June 16th, 2012, 21:29

This is a somewhat tangential observation/question...

Running ZFS with 8GB (total) RAM, I note that even on heavy builds (world etc), the HD light only pulses very briefly and occasionally - e.g. one single short flash every few seconds. (I can't remember what it used to be like when I used to run UFS). So, assuming there's a decent caching infrastructure in place, like ZFS's L2ARC, is there something to be said for letting the system use memory as it sees fit? Is there much to be gained by manually specifying a RAM disc these days?

sim

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
ZFS Clone at RAMDISK is it possible?	stassik	Storage	1	January 31st, 2012 08:35
[Solved] Compiling and installing a port as an unprivileged user	kpedersen	Installation and Maintenance of FreeBSD Ports or Packages	4	March 7th, 2011 17:56
Compiling port issues	izaak86	Installation and Maintenance of FreeBSD Ports or Packages	0	November 21st, 2010 06:23
Cross compiling a port	olivier	Other Architectures	0	February 27th, 2010 18:05
[Solved] Finding needed ports without compiling them, for a port	overmind	Installation and Maintenance of FreeBSD Ports or Packages	3	January 22nd, 2010 20:31

The Following User Says Thank You to SirDice For This Useful Post:
ring_zero (April 26th, 2012)

The Following User Says Thank You to kpa For This Useful Post:
ring_zero (April 26th, 2012)