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RAM needed for desktop installer reduced to half by zRAM

 

Hi everybody,

WHy is zRAM removed from the daily build? Is it a mistake, was the idea
to test zRAM only a few days, or did someone find something really bad
with it?

-o-

Anyway, I have a short report from testing the desktop iso, that I
zsynced June 16 at 17.30 Central European time. It has zRAM, I tested it
in a computer bought in January 2004, a Dell Dimension 4600. I used the
mem boot option to make it use various amounts of RAM.

Summary: The RAM needed to install with the desktop installer was
reduced to half compared to my previous tests in Raring. Now the desktop
installer reaches the same low levels as the alternate (text) installer.
It is possible to reach further down with special methods, as shown by
amjjawad (or by adding zRAM to the alternate iso too).

The desktop installer (ubuquity) in Lubuntu 32-bit

works without disk swap: down to 384 MB RAM
works running disk swap: down to 256 MB RAM

at 384 MB, free -m reports 369 MB
at 256 MB, free -m reports 242 MB

See the attached file.

Best regards
Nio
Testing Lubuntu Saucy desktop 32-bit iso file with zRAM.

Dell dimension 4600 desktop with P4 2.8 GHz single processor
and boot option mem=xxxM to get various amounts of RAM 
Something else .... at the partitioning page

Works without disk swap: 512, 384 MB RAM
At 384 MB , free -m reports 369 MB
Works with disk swap: 320, 256 MB RAM
At 256 MB, free -m reports 242 MB
Crashes at 224, 192 MB RAM also with 2 GB RAM
Crashes in various ways (too little RAM to manage bug reports

The Dell runs live with all those memory levels

An old Compaq Presario 5640 desktop with 400 MHz CPU and 192 MB RAM and Radeon
graphics booted, but did not run with a graphical desktop interface. It could
not even reach the first page of the desktop installer. This computer runs
beautifully with a modern version of Knoppix.

Summary: The RAM needed to install with the desktop installerwas reduced to
half compared to my previous tests in Raring. Now the desktop installer reaches
the same low levels as the alternate (text) installer. It is possible to reach
further down with special methods, as shown by amjjawad.


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