# Objective Monitor dirty files memory, Change to more suitable values. What it does: change from default 10 and 50%.
My understanding: If `(vm.dirty_background_ratio/100) * memory size > largest file size`, then it should be ok.[reference needed] Note: `memory size` may be *available* memory size. Closing your memory- eating browsers may help.[reference needed] After editing the dirty values, reboot your system. It helped me. # Sources: - https://lonesysadmin.net/2013/12/22/better-linux-disk-caching-performance-vm-dirty_ratio/ - http://fooo.fr/~vjeux/github/github-recommandation/db/doc/manual/html/linux-performance-guide.html # Helpful commands ``` # View one dirty setting sudo sysctl -n vm.dirty_ratio # default 10 sudo sysctl -n vm.dirty_background_ratio # default 50 # View/monitor several settings cat /etc/sysctl.conf | egrep "dirty|writeback" # config file's dirty, if loaded. cat /proc/vmstat | egrep "dirty|writeback" # print dirty cat /proc/vmstat | egrep "nr_" # print all nr # View/monitor several settings : dynamic watch grep -A 1 dirty /proc/vmstat # Soft edit dirty ratios sudo sysctl vm.dirty_background_ratio=50 # set variable's value sudo sysctl vm.dirty_ratio=80 # set variable's value # Hard edit config file sudoedit /etc/sysctl.conf # hard edit config file. #vm.dirty_background_ratio = 50 # add without the hashtag #vm.dirty_ratio = 80 # add without the hashtag # # Save with nano : CTRL+X, then y sudo sysctl -p # reload current config file. Resets soft variables. # Check changes cat /etc/sysctl.conf | egrep "dirty|writeback" # cat /proc/vmstat | egrep "dirty|writeback" # ``` # Proposed diagnosize for your steps Before and after changing dirty values. ``` # 1. System is waiting cat /proc/vmstat | egrep "dirty|writeback" # 2. Just started copy cat /proc/vmstat | egrep "dirty|writeback" # 3. Copy is staled cat /proc/vmstat | egrep "dirty|writeback" # 4. Just cancelled copy via mouse cat /proc/vmstat | egrep "dirty|writeback" # 5. Waiting = nr_dirt goes down cat /proc/vmstat | egrep "dirty|writeback" # 6. Back to normal. cat /etc/sysctl.conf | egrep "dirty|writeback" ``` -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1208993 Title: Ubuntu slows down and hangs while copying file from/to USB To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1208993/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list [email protected] https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs
