RAM Disks

The Linux kernel needs to mount a root file system before it can execute any processes. For rescue diskettes and CD's it is often quite natural to load the root file system into a RAM disk at boot time and mount the root file system on the RAM disk. This has the following advantages:

• The RAM disk can be stored compressed on the disk, so more programs can be stored on a diskette.
• The diskette or CD can be removed from the drive after the RAM disk is loaded, freeing the drive for other purposes, such as restoring backups or loading other utilities.
• Programs load faster from a RAM disk than from a diskette.