What is RAMDisk? RAMDisk is a program that takes a portion of your system memory and uses it as a disk drive. The more RAM your computer has, the larger the RAMDisk you can create. What is the benefit? In a word: SPEED!
The performance of a RAMDisk, in general, is orders of magnitude faster than other forms of storage media, such as an SSD (up to 100X) and hard drive (up to 200X). You can for free! Most users use RAMDisk to speed up applications like: -CAD programs -Databases - Speeding up CD duplication - SETI processing - TEMP files - Swap space - Web server cache -all information can be wiped upon power loss or shutdown - Custom applications with high I/O, high bandwidth, or high security requirements An additional feature of a RAMDisk is that it will never wear out. You can access it at maximum bandwidth 24/7/365 without fear of mechanical failure, or fragmentation (while a RAMDisk can become fragmented just like any other disk, but it does not take a performance hit like a physical disk does when it becomes fragmented). A RAMDisk operating at maximum bandwidth does not produce excessive heat, noise or vibrations.
RAMDisk can also out-perform. YouTube video. Hardware Requirements: Any Intel or AMD-based x86 system with at least 2 GB RAM (at least 4 GB recommended). O/S Requirements: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, Windows Server. Sorry, no support for Linux or Mac.
RAMDisk will be limited to approximately 2.85 GB maximum with 32-bit Windows OS. We've got more tutorials and the answers to your most common questions about RAMDisk to quickly get you on your way. If you can't find an answer to your question, our is ready to help. 'Thank you very much.
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Please help if you can. ( May 2011) allows part of a 's RAM (memory) to be seen as if it were a disk drive, with volume name and, if supported by the operating system,. A RAM drive has much faster read and write access than a with rotating platters, and is, being destroyed with its contents when a computer is shut down or —volatility is an advantage if security requires sensitive data to not be stored permanently, and to prevent accumulation of obsolete temporary data, but disadvantageous where a drive is used for faster processing of needed data. Data can be copied between conventional and a RAM drive to preserve it on power-down and load it on start-up. Contents. Overview Features Features that vary from one package to another:. Some RAM drives automatically back up contents on normal on power-down, and load them when the computer is started.
If this functionality is not provided, contents can always be preserved by start-up and close-down, or manually if the operator remembers to do so. Some software allows several RAM drives to be created; other programs support only one. Some RAM drives when used with 32-bit (particularly 32-bit ) on allow memory above the 4 GB point in the, if present, to be used; this memory is and not normally accessible.
Software using unmanaged memory can cause stability problems. Some RAM drives are able to use any 'unmanaged' or 'invisible' RAM below 4 GB in the memory map (known as the ) i.e.
RAM in the '. Note: Do not assume that RAM drives supporting 'AWE' (or ) memory above 4 GB will also support unmanaged PAE (or ) memory below 4 GB—most don't. md - memory disk The md driver was written by Poul-Henning Kamp. This driver provides support for four kinds of memory backed virtual disks - malloc, preload, vnode, swap.
Disks may be created with the next command line tools: mdconfig and mdmfs. An example of how to use these programs follows. To create and mount memory disk with mdmfs: # mdmfs -F newimage -s 5m md0 /mnt To create and mount memory disk with mdconfig: # mdconfig -a -t swap -s 5m -u 0 # newfs -U md0 # mount /dev/md0 /mnt To destroy previously created disk: # umount /mnt # mdconfig -d -u 0 Linux shm Modern Linux systems come pre-installed with a user-accessible ramdisk mounted at /dev/shm. RapidDisk RapidDisk is a free and open source project containing a Linux kernel module and administration utility that functions similar to the Ramdiskadm of the. With the rxadm utility, the user is capable of dynamically attaching, removing, and resizing volumes and treat them like any other block device. And ramfs An example of how to use tmpfs and ramfs in a Linux environment is as follows: $ mkdir /var/ramdisk Once the mount point is identified the mount command can be used to mount a tmpfs and ramfs file system on top of that mount point: $ mount -t tmpfs none /var/ramdisk -o size=28m Now each time /var/ramdisk is accessed all reads and writes will be coming directly from memory.
There are 2 differences between tmpfs and ramfs. 1) the mounted space of ramfs is theorically infinite, as ramfs will grow if needed, which can easily cause system lockup or crash for using up all available memory, or start heavy swapping to free up more memory for the ramfs. For this reason limiting the size of a ramfs area can be recommendable.
2) tmpfs is backed by the computer's swap space There are also many 'wrappers' for the RAM disks for Linux as Profile-sync-daemon (psd) and many others allowing users to utilize RAM disk for desktop application speedup moving intensive IO for caches into RAM. Microsoft Windows Non-proprietary ImDisk ImDisk Virtual Disk Driver is a disk image emulator created by Olof Lagerkvist. It is and, and is available in 32- and 64-bit variants. It is digitally signed, which makes it compatible with 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows without having to be run in Test mode. The 64-bit version has no practical limit to the size of RAM disk that may be created.
ImDisk Toolkit is a third-party, and that embeds the ImDisk Virtual Disk Driver and adds several features. ERAM ERAM is an open source driver that supports making a drive that is up to 4 GB of the total amount of RAM, uses paged/non-paged memory and supports backing up the drive to an image. It works on Windows XP/NT/2000/7/10 (32 and 64-bit). Its driver and source code can be found by going to.
Proprietary AMD Radeon RAMDisk AMD Radeon RAMDisk is available in free versions (RAM drive up to 4 GB, or 6 GB with AMD memory), and commercial versions for drives up to 64 GB. The free version is 'advertising supported'. Creates only a single drive (does not support multiple RAM drives). Can be backed up periodically to hard drive, and automatically loaded when the computer is started. AMD Radeon RAMDisk is a rebranded version of Dataram RAMDisk. Dataram RAMDisk 's RAMDisk is freeware (up to 1 GB (reduced from 4 to 1GB - per October 2015 site visit) disk size) and was originally developed and marketed by John Lajoie through his private consulting company until 2001, when he sold his rights to, before being acquired by Dataram.
RAM disks larger than 4 GB require registration and a $18.99 single-user license. When purchasing physical RAM from Dataram, the RAMDisk license is provided free of charge. (Per DATARAM Government Sales on 4/25/2014, this is no longer the case.) Compatible with all 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2003.
Dimmdrive RAMDisk A RAMdisk built specifically for gamers which features real-time file-synchronization, integration, 'USB3 Turbo Mode'. The interface was designed to support both technical and non-technical game enthusiasts.
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Cost is $29 at Dimmdrive.com and $30 on Steam. ($14.99 on steam as of 2018) Gavotte RamDisk Can use to create a virtual disk in memory normally inaccessible to 32-bit versions of Microsoft Windows (both memory above the 4 GB point, and memory in the PCI hole). There is also an open source plugin that replaces the RAM drive on with one based on Gavotte's rramdisk.sys. Gilisoft RAMDisk RAMDisk software for Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista/Windows 7 (x32 & x64)/Windows 10 with simple setup, permits mounting-and-unmounting of RAMDisk images to/from drive-image-files, and automated/convenient startup/shutdown features, $25. Gizmo Central Gizmo Central is a program that can create and mount virtual disk files.
It also has the ability to create a RAM disk. Passmark OSFMount Passmark's OSFMount supports the creation of RAM disks, and also allows you to mount local disk image files (bit-for-bit copies of a disk partition) in Windows with a drive letter. OSFMount is a free utility designed for use with PassMark OSForensics.
QSOFT ( WinRamTech ) Ramdisk Enterprise A reliable RAM Disk compatible with all Windows Workstation and Server OS versions (32- and 64-bit) starting from Windows 2000. Prices vary from $9 to $11. The content of the RAM Disk can be made 'persisted' i.e. Saved to an image file on the hard disk at regular times and/or at shutdown, and restored from the same image file at boot time.
Because of the built-in disk format routines and the built-in load of the image file, this ramdisk drive is already fully accessible at the bootstage where Services and automatically started programs are launched. Certain concurrent running benchmarks of two ramdisks at the same time reveal that this ramdisk is almost the fastest version. A fresh full-featured evaluation version is provided every year around August and allows users to update their nearly expiring version. The development of this RAM Disk was ended on 2017, August 1.
SoftPerfect RAM Disk Available for Windows XP, 2003, 2008, Vista, 7, 8 and 10. Can only access memory available to Windows (i.e. The RAM disk is limited to the same ca. 3.25 GB as the Windows 32-bit system). To use physical memory above 4 GB you must use a 64-bit system. Multiple RAM disks can be created, and these can be 'persisted' i.e.
Saved to, and restored from, a hard disk image. Note: Works well except for the special 'Harddisk emulation' part tends to crash or become unstable when used with the updated windows 10 anniversary edition. Home use licence is $29 (Before it was free for non-commercial use. Last free version was 3.4.8 ). A commercial use license starts at $49, and discounts are offered for quantities over 5. StarWind Software Virtual RAM Drive Emulator makes a freeware RAM disk software for mounting memory as actual drives within Windows.
Both x86 and x64 versions exist. SuperSpeed RamDisk and RamDisk Plus and certified by Microsoft for 32 and 64-bit Windows XP, Vista, 7 & 8 (Win2000 is not supported). The basic version of RamDisk supports only a single drive in memory whilst the Plus version supports the use RAM both below and above the 4 GB limit in 32-bit Windows as well as multiple drives and other features including the loading and saving from and to a physical image file as well as advanced automated backup features. Basic $60, Plus $80 (Server versions, for business use, a lot more, depending on system hardware). VSuite Ramdisk The Free Edition (limited to Windows 32-bit Win2000 / XP / 2003) is able to use 'invisible' RAM in the 3.25 to 4 GB 'gap' (if your motherboard has i946 or above chipset) & is also capable of 'saving to hard disk on power down' (so, in theory, allows you to use the RAM disk for Windows XP swap file and survive over a 'Hibernate'). Whilst the free edition allows multiple RAM disk drives to be set up, the total of all drives is limited to 4096 MB. The current version, VSuite Ramdisk II, has been rebranded as 'Primo Ramdisk', all versions of which are chargeable.
Microsoft source code Ramdisk.sys sample driver for Windows 2000 offers a 'demonstration' RAM disk for as part of the. Limited to using the same physical RAM as the operating system. It is available as free download with source code. RAMDisk sample for Windows 7/8 Microsoft provides source code for a RAM disk driver for Windows 7 and 8 Native also has a rough analog to in the form of 'temporary files'. Files created with both FILEATTRIBUTETEMPORARY and FILEFLAGDELETEONCLOSE are held in memory and only written to disk if the system experiences high memory pressure. In this way they behave like tmpfs, except the files are written to the specified path during low memory situations, rather than to swap space. This technique is often used by servers along with TransmitFile to render content to a buffer before sending to the client.
Solaris Ramdiskadm Ramdiskadm is a utility found in the to dynamically add and destroy ramdisk volumes of any user defined sizes. An example of how to use ramdiskadm to add a new in a Solaris environment is as follows: $ ramdiskadm -a ramdisk1 100m To destroy the: $ ramdiskadm -d ramdisk1 All created RAM disks can be accessed from the /dev/ramdisk directory path and treated like any other block device; that is, accessed like a physical block device, labeled with a file system and mounted, to even used in a pool. DOS.
includes SRDISK. 3.2 includes RAMDRIVE.SYS.
3.0 includes VDISK.SYS. included VDISK.SYS. included an automatic RAM disk as drive M: References. Retrieved 2013-11-17. – invalid link!
Retrieved 2013-11-17. Retrieved 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2016-06-24. Prefetch.net blog.
January 2, 2012. November 1, 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-17. Retrieved 2017-09-08.
Retrieved 2013-11-17. (January 1, 2001).
Retrieved 2013-11-17. Retrieved 2013-11-17. Homepage of Jens Scheffler (2012-06-30).
Retrieved 2013-11-17. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
Retrieved 2013-11-17. Retrieved 2013-12-30. QSoft RAMDisk becomes. Retrieved 2013-11-17. January 2, 2012.
April 2, 2014. October 15, 2010. Open Storage & Virtualization Magazine. February 14, 2015. Archived from on April 3, 2015. External links.
Depending on your intended use case you may not need a ramdisk for Ubuntu (or most Linux distros). The operating system caches reads and write activity to RAM while it is working with regular disks. If you read a small file several times, it will only be fetched from disk once, then retrieved from the RAM cache on the following times. If you have plenty of RAM, everything you do will get cached in this way so you get very little repeat disk activity. If you want non-persistent fast memory use instead of files, you need a RAMDISK still. See for more details.
– Oct 6 '16 at 14:11. This will show you how to make a RAMDISK super fast and easily. With a RAMDISK you can use your memory for temporary space and it’s also a lot quicker than your hard drive. Now lets start by using the next 2 commands to make your RAMDISK. Put whatever you want your RAMDISK to be called where I wrote “nameme”. Mkdir -p /media/nameme mount -t tmpfs -o size=2048M tmpfs /media/nameme/ The above commands would use 2GB of my RAM for the RAMDISK.
If you don’t have as much ram as I do I would use 512MB or 1GB. So next were going to create a command for Terminal that will automatically create the RAMDISK for you. The tmpfs filesystem is a RAMDISK. The following will create a 2G RAMDISK that will always be available. Sudo mkdir -p /media/ramdisk sudo mount -t tmpfs -o size=2048M tmpfs /media/ramdisk The ramdisk folder is owned by root as it is to be available on reboot. The ramdisk permissions should be writeable by everyone.
The tmpfs default permissions (chmod 1777) are correct. Sudo chmod 1777 /media/ramdisk drwxrwxrwt 2 root root 180 Apr 23 07:34 /media/ramdisk To make the ramdisk permanently available, add it to /etc/fstab. Grep /media/ramdisk /etc/mtab sudo tee -a /etc/fstab You will see the line moved from mtab to fstab. It will look something like this. Tmpfs /media/ramdisk tmpfs rw,size=2048M 0 0 The RAMDISK won't consume memory until you use it. Double check your memory requirements during maximum system load. If the RAMDISK is too large, your system will consume swap storage to make up the difference.
To adjust the size of the RAMDISK, edit /etc/fstab and verify by remounting the ramdisk (you will lose your current RAMDISK content as you will on reboot). The following will change the size of the ramdisk to 512M # Check the existing ramdisk size. Df /media/ramdisk # change size=512M for a 512 megabyte ram drive. Sudo vi /etc/fstab # Remount the ramdisk, you will lose any existing content. Sudo mount -a /media/ramdisk # Verify the new ramdisk size.
Df /media/ramdisk. Adding my 2-cent for the case you don't have root-privileges: Quoting from from unix.stackexchange Linux provides a tmpfs device which any user can use, /dev/shm. It is not mounted to a specific directory by default, but you can still use it as one. Simply create a directory in /dev/shm and then symlink it to wherever you want. You can give the created directory any permissions you choose, so that other users can't access it. This is a RAM backed device, so what's there is in memory by default.
You can create any directories you need inside /dev/shm Naturally, files placed here will not survive a reboot, and if your machine starts swapping, /dev/shm won't help you.
Centos Create A Ram Disk
AIX supports memory-resident file systems. It can be used to maximize disk performance. It’s equivalent to Solaris tmpfs filesystem. NOTE: RAM disk doesn’t survive a reboot. Steps to create a RAM disk on AIX:. Get size of real (online) memory. Create the RAM disk.
Create the file system. Mount the file system. Get size of real (online) memory.
Create A Ram Disk In Windows
root@aix:/ lparstat -i grep Memory egrep 'Minimum Online Maximum' Online Memory: 16384 MB Maximum Memory: 24576 MB Minimum Memory: 256 MB Or, root@aix:/ bootinfo -r 16777216. Create the RAM disk. root@aix:/ mkramdisk 1024M /dev/rramdisk0 NOTE: By default, RAM disk pages are pinned. If you want to create RAM disk pages that are not pinned use ‘-u’ flag.
Create A Ram Disk In Windows
Create the file system. root@aix:/ mkfs -V jfs2 /dev/ramdisk0 mkfs: destroy /dev/ramdisk0 (yes)? Y File system created successfully. 16176 kilobytes total disk space. Device /dev/ramdisk0: Standard empty filesystem Size: 2096680 512-byte (DEVBLKSIZE) blocks. Mount the file system.