|
A RAM-Disk, Ramdisk or Ramdrive is a virtual solid state disk that uses a segment of active computer memory, RAM, as secondary storage, a role typically filled by hard drives. Access times are greatly improved, because RAM is approximately a thousand times faster than hard drives. However, the volatility of RAM means that data will be lost if power is lost, e.g. when the computer is turned off. RAM disks can be used to store temporary data or hold uncompressed programs for short periods. Solid state disk (SSD, also called solid state drive) is a data storage device that uses memory chips, such as SDRAMs, to store data, instead of the spinning platters found in conventional hard disk drives. ...
To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...
It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Data storage device. ...
Typical hard drives of the mid-1990s. ...
In computer science, data compression or source coding is the process of encoding information using fewer bits (or other information-bearing units) than a more obvious representation would use, through use of specific encoding schemes. ...
RAM disks were popular as boot media in the 1980s, when hard drives were expensive, floppy drives were slow, and a few systems, such as the Amiga series and the Apple IIgs, supported booting from a RAM disk. At the cost of some main memory, the system could be soft-rebooted and be back in the operating system in mere seconds instead of minutes. Some systems had battery-backed RAM disks so their contents could persist when the system is shut down. 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ...
The original Amiga (1985) The Amiga is a family of home/personal computers originally developed by Amiga Corporation as an advanced game console. ...
The Apple IIGS, the fifth model inception of the Apple II, was the most powerful member of the Apple II series of personal computers made by Apple Computer. ...
Four double-A (AA) rechargeable batteries In science and technology, a battery is a device that stores energy and makes it available in an electrical form. ...
A proper disk cache in the operating system will usually obviate the performance motivation for a RAM disk; a disk cache fulfills a similar role (fast access to data that is notionally stored on a disk) without the various penalties (data loss in the event of power loss, static partitioning, etc.). RAM disks are, however, indispensable in situations in which a physical disk is not available, or where access to, or changing a physical disk is not desirable (such as in the case of LiveCDs). They can also be used in a kiosk-style device where any changes made to a system are not committed and the original configuration is to be loaded each time the computer is turned on. Look up cache in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
Early computers lacked operating systems. ...
Gnoppix 0. ...
Another way to use RAM to store files is the temporary filesystem. The difference between temporary filesystem and a RAM disk is that the RAM disk (/dev/ram0 etc.) is fixed-sized and acts like a disk partition, whereas the temporary filesystem (/dev/shm; in Source Mage GNU/Linux also /tmp) grows and shrinks to fit the files put on it. See Filing system for this term as it is used in libraries and offices In computing, a file system is a method for storing and organizing computer files and the data they contain to make it easy to find and access them. ...
In computer engineering, hard disk drive partitioning is the creation of logical divisions upon a hard disk that allows one to apply operating system-specific logical formatting. ...
Source Mage GNU/Linux is a Linux distribution. ...
Advantages: Much faster than hard drives and only requires special software (and of course the computer's RAM).
Disadvantages: limited to main memory and data is lost on loss of power unless other measures (such as battery backup) are used.
See also - Cenatek - a company that provides both RAM disk software and hardware.
Cenatek Inc. ...
External links |
Feeds |
Contact