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+ <title>Petter Reinholdtsen: Quicker Debian installations using eatmydata</title>
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+ <div class="title">
+ <h1>
+ <a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/">Petter Reinholdtsen</a>
+
+ </h1>
+
+</div>
+
+
+ <div class="entry">
+ <div class="title">Quicker Debian installations using eatmydata</div>
+ <div class="date">25th November 2016</div>
+ <div class="body"><p>Two years ago, I did some experiments with eatmydata and the Debian
+installation system, observing how using
+<a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Speeding_up_the_Debian_installer_using_eatmydata_and_dpkg_divert.html">eatmydata
+could speed up the installation</a> quite a bit. My testing measured
+speedup around 20-40 percent for Debian Edu, where we install around
+1000 packages from within the installer. The eatmydata package
+provide a way to disable/delay file system flushing. This is a bit
+risky in the general case, as files that should be stored on disk will
+stay only in memory a bit longer than expected, causing problems if a
+machine crashes at an inconvenient time. But for an installation, if
+the machine crashes during installation the process is normally
+restarted, and avoiding disk operations as much as possible to speed
+up the process make perfect sense.
+
+<p>I added code in the Debian Edu specific installation code to enable
+<a href="https://tracker.debian.org/pkg/libeatmydata">eatmydata</a>,
+but did not have time to push it any further. But a few months ago I
+picked it up again and worked with the libeatmydata package maintainer
+Mattia Rizzolo to make it easier for everyone to get this installation
+speedup in Debian. Thanks to our cooperation There is now an
+eatmydata-udeb package in Debian testing and unstable, and simply
+enabling/installing it in debian-installer (d-i) is enough to get the
+quicker installations. It can be enabled using preseeding. The
+following untested kernel argument should do the trick:</p>
+
+<blockquote><pre>
+preseed/early_command="anna-install eatmydata-udeb"
+</pre></blockquote>
+
+<p>This should ask d-i to install the package inside the d-i
+environment early in the installation sequence. Having it installed
+in d-i in turn will make sure the relevant scripts are called just
+after debootstrap filled /target/ with the freshly installed Debian
+system to configure apt to run dpkg with eatmydata. This is enough to
+speed up the installation process. There is a proposal to
+<a href="https://bugs.debian.org/841153">extend the idea a bit further
+by using /etc/ld.so.preload instead of apt.conf</a>, but I have not
+tested its impact.</p>
+
+</div>
+
+ <div class="tags">Tags: <a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/debian">debian</a>, <a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/debian edu">debian edu</a>, <a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/english">english</a>.</div>
+
+
+ </div>
+
+
+
+
+ <div id="sidebar">
+
+
+
+<h2>Archive</h2>
+<ul>
+
+<li>2016
+<ul>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2016/01/">January (3)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2016/02/">February (2)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2016/03/">March (3)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2016/04/">April (8)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2016/05/">May (8)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2016/06/">June (2)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2016/07/">July (2)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2016/08/">August (5)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2016/09/">September (2)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2016/10/">October (3)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2016/11/">November (7)</a></li>
+
+</ul></li>
+
+<li>2015
+<ul>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2015/01/">January (7)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2015/02/">February (6)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2015/03/">March (1)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2015/04/">April (4)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2015/05/">May (3)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2015/06/">June (4)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2015/07/">July (6)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2015/08/">August (2)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2015/09/">September (2)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2015/10/">October (9)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2015/11/">November (6)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2015/12/">December (3)</a></li>
+
+</ul></li>
+
+<li>2014
+<ul>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2014/01/">January (2)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2014/02/">February (3)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2014/03/">March (8)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2014/04/">April (7)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2014/05/">May (1)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2014/06/">June (2)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2014/07/">July (2)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2014/08/">August (2)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2014/09/">September (5)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2014/10/">October (6)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2014/11/">November (3)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2014/12/">December (5)</a></li>
+
+</ul></li>
+
+<li>2013
+<ul>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2013/01/">January (11)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2013/02/">February (9)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2013/03/">March (9)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2013/04/">April (6)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2013/05/">May (9)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2013/06/">June (10)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2013/07/">July (7)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2013/08/">August (3)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2013/09/">September (5)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2013/10/">October (7)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2013/11/">November (9)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2013/12/">December (3)</a></li>
+
+</ul></li>
+
+<li>2012
+<ul>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2012/01/">January (7)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2012/02/">February (10)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2012/03/">March (17)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2012/04/">April (12)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2012/05/">May (12)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2012/06/">June (20)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2012/07/">July (17)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2012/08/">August (6)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2012/09/">September (9)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2012/10/">October (17)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2012/11/">November (10)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2012/12/">December (7)</a></li>
+
+</ul></li>
+
+<li>2011
+<ul>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2011/01/">January (16)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2011/02/">February (6)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2011/03/">March (6)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2011/04/">April (7)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2011/05/">May (3)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2011/06/">June (2)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2011/07/">July (7)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2011/08/">August (6)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2011/09/">September (4)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2011/10/">October (2)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2011/11/">November (3)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2011/12/">December (1)</a></li>
+
+</ul></li>
+
+<li>2010
+<ul>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2010/01/">January (2)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2010/02/">February (1)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2010/03/">March (3)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2010/04/">April (3)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2010/05/">May (9)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2010/06/">June (14)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2010/07/">July (12)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2010/08/">August (13)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2010/09/">September (7)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2010/10/">October (9)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2010/11/">November (13)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2010/12/">December (12)</a></li>
+
+</ul></li>
+
+<li>2009
+<ul>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2009/01/">January (8)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2009/02/">February (8)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2009/03/">March (12)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2009/04/">April (10)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2009/05/">May (9)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2009/06/">June (3)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2009/07/">July (4)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2009/08/">August (3)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2009/09/">September (1)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2009/10/">October (2)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2009/11/">November (3)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2009/12/">December (3)</a></li>
+
+</ul></li>
+
+<li>2008
+<ul>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2008/11/">November (5)</a></li>
+
+<li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/archive/2008/12/">December (7)</a></li>
+
+</ul></li>
+
+</ul>
+
+
+
+<h2>Tags</h2>
+<ul>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/3d-printer">3d-printer (13)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/amiga">amiga (1)</a></li>
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+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/debian">debian (141)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/debian edu">debian edu (158)</a></li>
+
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+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/english">english (333)</a></li>
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+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/lsdvd">lsdvd (2)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/ltsp">ltsp (1)</a></li>
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+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/mesh network">mesh network (8)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/multimedia">multimedia (39)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/nice free software">nice free software (8)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/norsk">norsk (282)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/nuug">nuug (182)</a></li>
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+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/offentlig innsyn">offentlig innsyn (26)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/open311">open311 (2)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/opphavsrett">opphavsrett (62)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/personvern">personvern (95)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/raid">raid (1)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/reactos">reactos (1)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/reprap">reprap (11)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/rfid">rfid (3)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/robot">robot (10)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/rss">rss (1)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/ruter">ruter (4)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/scraperwiki">scraperwiki (2)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/sikkerhet">sikkerhet (52)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/sitesummary">sitesummary (4)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/skepsis">skepsis (5)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/standard">standard (49)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/stavekontroll">stavekontroll (5)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/stortinget">stortinget (10)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/surveillance">surveillance (43)</a></li>
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+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/sysadmin">sysadmin (2)</a></li>
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+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/usenix">usenix (2)</a></li>
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+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/valg">valg (8)</a></li>
+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/video">video (59)</a></li>
+
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+
+ <li><a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/tags/web">web (38)</a></li>
+
+</ul>
+
+
+ </div>
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