CompCache - userinit

[bdb4269]

[EDIT] I posted this a while back -- I am not sure how all this works with newer versions [\EDIT]

Creating this as a separate thread to discuss all things compcache/swap.

EDIT: This might only work with Cyan's ROM's -- I don't really know you are welcome to try with other ROM's though -- and if ya do -- let us know how it goes!

I'm just going to start by detailing how I got setup with compcache with backing swap. (the second post will tell why you want to use backing-swap instead of linux swap)

EDIT: Though you may decide you don't want to use either, and just want vanilla compcache -- if that is the case -- and you don't already have compcache setup you can still follow the instructions below, and just ignore the parts that tell you, you have to have a linux swap partition, and that you should edit the files)
(also -- regardless of how you set it up -- once you have compcache setup - you can use the intructions in post three -- to try tweaking settings like swapiness, if you are so inclined)

(Also -- see the third post for instructions on what to do if you are already set up, and just want to tweek some values)

To save time -- I am going to steal from previous posts. (many thanks to SilleeString, as I stole much from his posts )

If anyone has suggestions for updates/corrections/clarifications -- feel free to PM me and I will do my best to include them -- Though I am going to be a bit busy this weekend


Here we go....

So to get setup with backing swap first you need to have a swap partition on your SD card. If you are sure you already have a linux-swap partition on sdcard (in addition to ext3 partition) -- or if you just want compcache with no backing_swap -- skip this paragraph
I have cooked up a method to repartition your SD card and not loose anything -- I have made a separate post detailing the method -- it can be found here (this will backup and restore your ext3 partition/apps too!)
http://androidcommunity.com/forums/232988-post31.html


OK -- so at this point you should have a linux-swap partition, on your SD card (unless you are just trying to setup compcache without backingswap or linuxswap)


First - Download the newest version of userinit.sh found here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=542899

Unzip the files on your sdcard and edit "user.conf" looking for and editing the following 3 variable assignments


NOTE: if you edit user.conf you must use a linux friendly editor(i.e. notepad/wordpad are not linux freindly) -- if you dont have one -- see below for a work around -- and for now -- just use wordpad to open, and edit the files.
Here is how to use wordpad to open and edit the files
Open wordpad from the start menu under Accesories
then File --> Open
In the open file dialog browse to the folder with the files
Then near the bottom of the open file dialog box -- find the "Files of Type" dropdown box -- select "All Documents (*.*)" and you should be able to see the files now
Open the files, edit them as instructed below, and click save



Variables to look for and set/edit.... (assuming you are trying to setup backing_swap)

cc_backingswap_en=1
cc_disksize=0
cc_memlimit=8

and make sure (linux_swap_en=0)

(The above variable set, is to setup compcache with backing_swap -- See the bottom of post 3, for more different sets of variables you can try for different configs)




then type the following into terminal:

su
 mount -o remount,rw /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system

WORKAROUND: If you did not use a linux friendly editor to user.conf, (i.e. notepad/wordpad are not linux freindly) you must run the following command at this point....

dos2unix /sdcard/user.conf

This converts user.conf to linux format from the format notepad/wordpad saves them in in windows.



Now we need to copy the files from the sdcard to where they need to go. So do the following in terminal

cp /sdcard/userinit.sh /system/sd
cp /sdcard/user.conf /system/sd

IF THIS IS THE VERY FIRST TIME YOU EVER SETUP COMPCACHE -- THEN SKIP THIS PARAGRAPH

If you already had compcache enabled -- and are just trying to add backing swap -- then all you need to do is reboot your phone now, and run the following to verify (you should see something about "backingswap" near the top)

rzscontrol /dev/block/ramzswap0 -s

The rest of the instructions below, only need to be done, if you are setting up compcache for the first time





START BACK HERE IF YOU HAVE NEVER SETUP COMPCACHE BEFORE
Here's how to enable it:

modprobe ramzswap
rzscontrol /dev/block/ramzswap0 --init
swapon /dev/block/ramzswap0

Might be good to reboot the phone here.


To get stats:

rzscontrol /dev/block/ramzswap0 -s

[bdb4269]

Here is why I suggest backingswap instead of Linuxswap for use with compcache.

OK -- so I did some reading onthe userinit/compcache thread on xda.

Looks like I did not have linux swap enabled, AND, looks like it is actually better to use backingswap with compcache instead of linuxswap anyway, because compcache can control backingswap so that it initegrates better.

compache = ram based swap (much faster when compare to disk/flash based swap)
back_swap = ram based swap + normal swap based on disk/flash and managed by compcache
linux swap= disk/flash based swap managed by Linux

http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...&postcount=169


Anyway -- so I now have compcache enabled with backing swap, using my swap partition on SD card. And it now shows the entire size of the swap partition. Plus 100% GoodCompress.

Check out the screen shot (output from rzscontrol /dev/block/ramzswap0 -s and free)
http://androidcommunity.com/forums/a...9&d=1249497020
and
output below from the status command mentioned on the compcache thread. (sh /system/sd/userinit.sh -s)

$su
# ash
/ # sh /system/sd/userinit.sh -s
===CompCache status===
CompCache version 0.6+
Compcache enabled
CompCache: MemLimit 8192(system) 8192(user)
CompCache: BackingSwap /dev/block/mmcblk0p3(system) /dev/block/mmcblk0p3(user)
CompCache: cc_swappiness - 30(system) 30(user)
=== CompCache status ===
BackingSwap:    /dev/block/mmcblk0p3
DiskSize:         610470 kB
MemLimit:           8192 kB
NumReads:            396
NumWrites:          1378
FailedReads:           0
FailedWrites:          0
InvalidIO:             0
PagesDiscard:          0
ZeroPages:            73
GoodCompress:        100 %
NoCompress:            0 %
PagesStored:         822
PagesUsed:           184
OrigDataSize:       3288 kB
ComprDataSize:       726 kB
MemUsedTotal:        736 kB
BDevNumReads:         68
BDevNumWrites:       483
 ===VM status===
Set VM: page-cluster - 3(system) 3(user)
Set VM: laptop_mode - 0(system) 0(user)
Set VM: dirty_expire_centisecs - 3000(system) 3000(user)
Set VM: dirty_writeback_centisecs - 500(system) 500(user)
Set VM: dirty_background_ratio - 5(system) 5(user)
Set VM: dirty_ratio - 10(system) 10(user)
===CPU status===
Set CPU: scaling_min_freq - 528000(system) 528000(user)
Set CPU: scaling_max_freq - 528000(system) 528000(user)
Set CPU: sampling_rate - 2000000(system) 2000000(user)
Set CPU: powersave_bias - 200(system) 200(user)
/ #

[bdb4269]

Then -- if you want to tweak values -- all you need to do is edit the user.conf file on your SD card, and then do the following and reboot

su
mount -o remount,rw /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system

WORKAROUND: if you did not use a linux friendly editor to edit user.conf, (i.e. notepad/wordpad are not linux freindly) you must run the following command at this point....

dos2unix /sdcard/user.conf

This converts user.conf to linux format from the format notepad/wordpad saves them in in windows.

Then just

cp /sdcard/user.conf /system/sd

And then reboot your phone.



And here are some lists of values you can use, if you want to try different configs. Remember to use linuxswap or backingswap you must have a linux swap partition. If you don't see post 31 if you want to set one up.

NOTE: For all the variable sets below -- you want to look for the variable in "user.conf" and edit the value to match the value shown below. Then follow the steps above, to put the user.conf file into place.

To use only linux-swap

compcache=0
cc_backingswap_en=0
linux_swap_en=1

To use only compcache without backing_swap

compcache=1
cc_backingswap_en=0
linux_swap_en=0
cc_disksize=32
cc_memlimit=0

To use compcache with backing_swap

compcache=1
cc_backingswap_en=1
linux_swap_en=0
cc_disksize=0
cc_memlimit=8

To use compcache with linux swap

compcache=1
cc_backingswap_en=0
cc_disksize=32
cc_memlimit=0
linux_swap_en=1

originally posted by uwonsum

p.s. you can can also play with the different swappiness settings to tweak and play around.

[simms22]

nice ! thanks bdb4269 for starting this thread . im sure it will help a lot of people

[durhamite]

Thanks bdb... this surely helped me when it was in bits and pieces in another thread. It will be nice to be able to reference all of this in one thread!

[jroid]

I was reading this over at xda yesterday and I was wondering why backing swap was better to use with compcache over linux swap. 100% good compress?? man compcache and backing swap were meant for each other lol. gonna go change this now...

EDIT: enabled backingswap, running at 100% Good compress

[SilleeString]

GREAT thread. Thanks for putting it together, bdb.

Double thanks for the 3rd post. Gotta do that to enable backing swap! Good stuff.

[muhammadsauud]

i have comcache enabled but what does backing swap do anyone?
and also can someone upload there userinit file so that i can upload it i am not more of a linux user so i don't know how to make those changes to have a good compress of 100%

[muhammadsauud]

Ok so basically i don't know what does backswapping do? and can't edit the userinit file cuz i have no idea how to edit a file like that i haven't done it before

[bdb4269]

i have comcache enabled but what does backing swap do anyone?
and also can someone upload there userinit file so that i can upload it i am not more of a linux user so i don't know how to make those changes to have a good compress of 100%

Try my howto in post 1. Even if you are just on windows, you can edit the files with wordpad. My post includes an extra step so that you can use wordpad to edit the files.

If anything is unclear -- just let me know and I will try to clarify.
(plus, then I can updated the OP to be more clear for other people coming to this thread)


p.s. the reason I don't want to just post my files, is that when a new version is posted to xda, I would have to post new files here -- better for you to learn how to do it on your own we can help

give a man a fish - you feed him for a day
teach a man to fish - you feed him for a lifetime