On Tue, 27 Jul 2021, [email protected] wrote:
When I installed arch linux with latest ISO came across an option saying "copy to ram". Any idea what the use and benefits of it.
the idea is to copy the read-only filesystem (compressed SquashFS) from USB/DVD media to random access memory. LiveCD environment(s) are setup using this approach. IIRC Knoppix had this feature. If you have sufficient random access memory and a fast enough CPU, then you can run an equivalent to 'installed environment' from the memory itself. It can be handy for quick setup in memory, try out a feature or install some software and then shutdown the LiveCD environment. For sake of completeness, i'd like to mention that in 2017 there was an interesting project that let you load root file system in compressed random access memory https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/ramroot/ warm regards Saifi.
