ZRam
Encyclopedia
zRam is an available feature for certain distributions of Linux
, that was previously called "compcache". It increases performance by avoiding paging
on disk and instead uses a compressed block device in RAM
in which paging takes place until it is necessary to use the swap space on the hard disk drive. Since using RAM is faster than using disks, zRam allows Linux to make more use of RAM when swapping/paging is required, especially on older computers with less RAM installed.
Even though the cost of RAM hardware is relatively low this feature still offers advantages for netbook
s and other lower-powered latops, virtualization
and in the case of embedded devices, especially those that use flash memories
that have a limited lifespan, dependent on write-use and thus wear out quickly when used as a swap device.
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, that was previously called "compcache". It increases performance by avoiding paging
Paging
In computer operating systems, paging is one of the memory-management schemes by which a computer can store and retrieve data from secondary storage for use in main memory. In the paging memory-management scheme, the operating system retrieves data from secondary storage in same-size blocks called...
on disk and instead uses a compressed block device in RAM
Random-access memory
Random access memory is a form of computer data storage. Today, it takes the form of integrated circuits that allow stored data to be accessed in any order with a worst case performance of constant time. Strictly speaking, modern types of DRAM are therefore not random access, as data is read in...
in which paging takes place until it is necessary to use the swap space on the hard disk drive. Since using RAM is faster than using disks, zRam allows Linux to make more use of RAM when swapping/paging is required, especially on older computers with less RAM installed.
Even though the cost of RAM hardware is relatively low this feature still offers advantages for netbook
Netbook
Netbooks are a category of small, lightweight, legacy-free, and inexpensive laptop computers.At their inception in late 2007 as smaller notebooks optimized for low weight and low cost — netbooks omitted certain features , featured smaller screens and keyboards, and offered reduced computing...
s and other lower-powered latops, virtualization
Virtualization
Virtualization, in computing, is the creation of a virtual version of something, such as a hardware platform, operating system, a storage device or network resources....
and in the case of embedded devices, especially those that use flash memories
Flash memory
Flash memory is a non-volatile computer storage chip that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed. It was developed from EEPROM and must be erased in fairly large blocks before these can be rewritten with new data...
that have a limited lifespan, dependent on write-use and thus wear out quickly when used as a swap device.