|
|
Post by Ratae on Sept 13, 2014 14:37:17 GMT
So, I was recently reading something that caught my interest, it was an article about how to speed up Linux Mint on a puter that only has 1gb or less of ram. As my netbook only has 1gb of ram, I decided to give it a go. Here's the 'how to' Decrease the swap use (important)1.6. This is especially noticeable on computers with relatively low RAM memory (1 GB or less): they tend to be far too slow in Linux Mint, and Linux Mint accesses the hard disk too much. Luckily, this can be helped. On the hard disk there's a separate partition for virtual memory, called the swap. When Mint uses the swap too much, the computer slows down a lot. Mint's inclination to use the swap, is determined by a setting. The lower the setting number, the longer it takes before Mint starts using the swap. On a scale of 0-100, the default setting is 60. Which is much too high for normal desktop use, and only fit for servers. A detailed explanation can be found here (link dead? Then download this pdf file with the same content). Now the how-to: a. Check your current swappiness setting: Menu - Accessories - Terminal Type (use copy/paste to avoid errors): cat /proc/sys/vm/swappiness Press Enter. The result will probably be 60. b. Make sure that you have installed the applications gksu and leafpad: Menu - Accessories - Terminal Type (use copy/paste to transport this magical incantation to the terminal): sudo apt-get install gksu leafpad Press Enter. When prompted, type your password. Your password will remain entirely invisible, not even dots will show, this is normal. Press Enter again. c. To change the swappiness into a more sensible setting, type in the terminal (use copy/paste): gksudo leafpad /etc/sysctl.conf Press Enter. Scroll to the bottom of the text file and add your swappiness parameter to override the default. Copy/paste the following blue lines: # Decrease swap usage to a more reasonable level vm.swappiness=10 d. Save and close the text file. Then reboot your computer. e. After the reboot, check the new swappiness value: Menu - Accessories - Terminal Type (use copy/paste): cat /proc/sys/vm/swappiness Press Enter. Now it should be 10. Ckecked, and my swap is now 10  Speeded up browsing enormously! |
|
mr
Full Member
Posts: 100 
|
Post by mr on Sept 13, 2014 18:53:39 GMT
Wow what an astounding gem! I've used Linux for a long time now (since the release of Vista!) and never heard of that before. Thank you!
In fact my browsing had slowed right down on a 64 bit desktop with 4GB ram and i was trying to work out why! This little fix-it has speeded it up again.
|
|
|
|
Post by postman on Sept 13, 2014 19:30:52 GMT
I agree with MR, a gem  I ve copied this tip to a word pad. i'll put this to use on an older machine which could do with a bit more elbow and it looks like a bit more edge. cheers Dave  |
|
|
|
Post by Ratae on Sept 13, 2014 21:20:48 GMT
Sorted then! |
|
mr
Full Member
Posts: 100
|
Post by mr on Sept 13, 2014 22:33:12 GMT
I suppose the same would work with other types of Linux too, especially Ubuntu which is what Mint is based. Obviously the terminal commands would be different though on non Ubuntu based linuxes.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ratae on Sept 13, 2014 23:31:12 GMT
I suppose the same would work with other types of Linux too, especially Ubuntu which is what Mint is based. Obviously the terminal commands would be different though on non Ubuntu based linuxes. I really don't know about trying it on other distros. I've only ever tried Ubuntu and Mint. I'm not really interested in distro hopping, although I'm well aware that a great many people love doing that! If it works for me, that's good enough! |
|
mr
Full Member
Posts: 100
|
Post by mr on Sept 14, 2014 2:37:24 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Ratae on Sept 14, 2014 9:31:31 GMT
A few years ago when I first tried Linux (ubuntu v10) I joined the Linux forums looking for advice. Nice people mostly, and I'm sure very well meaning, but their ideas of how to explain stuff to a newbie, were a million miles away from what I was expecting, or indeed, requiring!  They could just as well be talking Klingon for all the sense it made to me!  Ended up doing what I usually do, muddled my way through by picking up bits and bobs from here and there, along the way. Lots of mistakes of course, several restarts and threats to walk away...but in the end, found myself with a functioning system and a bare assed basic 'how to' knowledge. Gets it done eventually! |
|
|
|
Post by Ratae on Nov 5, 2014 15:05:25 GMT
So, for those of you that have used this Swap partition fix....a 'heads up' Earlier today, I turned on my Mint lappy and there was a bunch of updates to install. Naturally, I set about running the update manager, and as the updates were downloading, I caught a fleeting glance at one which mentioned the 'Swap Partition' Anyway, I finished downloading and installing the updates. Then, being a suspicious old git, I ran that script to check on the size of my Swap, which you will recall, I'd set at 10. Sure enough, it had defaulted back to 60, which I assume, was caused by that update. So, the lesson is, after installing updates and if you want to keep your Swap size at 10 (or whatever)... then run that script. I've now reset mine to 10....only takes a couple of minutes. |
|
|
|
Post by Ratae on Nov 5, 2014 17:09:52 GMT
BTW folks, there is one slight problem caused by reducing the swap, it's when you want to 'Hibernate' your machine. I was wondering why it was that when I closed the lappy lid to hibernate the machine, the power light stayed on 'amber' as if in 'sleep' mode. However, nothing I clicked would get the damned thing to wake up. I just had to hard power down the machine then reboot it. Not really advisable! I was however aware that 'hibernation' mode was a problem for many Linux distros, and for varying reasons, but I was at a loss to know why I'd suddenly got this problem which I hadn't had before. Anyway, I'm pretty sure that I know now. Hibernation uses the swap partition to save to disc, it's recommended that the swap should be bigger than the hdd if you wish to use hibernation mode, which mine is. I'm guessing however, that the swap number, be it 60 or 10 ,relates to a percentage of that partition size, and my reducing it is why hibernate stopped working on this lappy. In power manager, I've now disabled hibernation and just use 'Shut down'......Sorted! |
|
|
|
Post by duyuthinkysaurus on Nov 17, 2014 16:54:01 GMT
Rats, What are the minumum specs for MINT?
I have an old desktop that is ripe for conversion.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ratae on Nov 17, 2014 18:27:11 GMT
Rats, What are the minumum specs for MINT? I have an old desktop that is ripe for conversion. Well Dinky....I'll assume that it's a 32bit machine, so you'll likely need 512MB RAM and 5GB of disk space. A graphics card capable of 800×600 resolution (1024×768 recommended) and DVD drive. That's about it really! |
|
|
|
Post by duyuthinkysaurus on Nov 17, 2014 19:00:49 GMT
OK, will try it. Thanks.
Dinks.
|
|
mr
Full Member
Posts: 100
|
Post by mr on Nov 17, 2014 22:43:26 GMT
Failing a decent performance of Mint, try Puppy 6 Tahrpup instead, go for the non-PAE version. I installed it on a 'made for XP ' laptop and once installed it woks beautifully. It uses the Ubuntu repositories too so you have many software titles to try too. Download from here: distrowatch.com/?newsid=08678 |
|
|
|
Post by Ratae on Feb 11, 2015 17:35:44 GMT
So, following on from my original post about low spec machines, I've found another little fix for Mint with the 'Mate' desktop.
I was wondering why my little netbook appeared to periodically slow down and the hdd live would flash, this may be the reason.
BTW....I've changed the setting to every 2 days!
|
|
I ve copied this tip to a word pad. i'll put this to use on an older machine which could do with a bit more elbow and it looks like a bit more edge. cheers Dave 
