I have Linux Kernel 2.4.21 running on a compact flash. To prevent
steady writing of the flash i am using rams disks for /etc /dev and
/var. This works fine als long as i mount the flash file system read
only.

But when i mount it read write (what is sometimes an advantage),
something starts to write to the root partition (i can see this, when
i look at /proc/stat disk_io every 40 seconds. Also if i boot with
init=/bin/sh the same thing happens and in this case only sh is
running!
(and of course the following processes)
2 ? SW 0:00 [keventd]
3 ? SWN 0:00 [ksoftirqd_CPU0]
4 ? SW 0:00 [kswapd]
5 ? SW 0:00 [bdflush]
6 ? SW 0:00 [kupdated]
7 ? SW 0:00 [kinoded]

But what is writing to the disk when no application is running?

Thanks,

Ulrich

uholeschak@hotmail.com (Ulrich Holeschak) writes:

]I have Linux Kernel 2.4.21 running on a compact flash. To prevent
]steady writing of the flash i am using rams disks for /etc /dev and
]/var. This works fine als long as i mount the flash file system read
]only.

]But when i mount it read write (what is sometimes an advantage),
]something starts to write to the root partition (i can see this, when
]i look at /proc/stat disk_io every 40 seconds. Also if i boot with
]init=/bin/sh the same thing happens and in this case only sh is
]running!
](and of course the following processes)
] 2 ? SW 0:00 [keventd]
] 3 ? SWN 0:00 [ksoftirqd_CPU0]
] 4 ? SW 0:00 [kswapd]
] 5 ? SW 0:00 [bdflush]
] 6 ? SW 0:00 [kupdated]
] 7 ? SW 0:00 [kinoded]

]But what is writing to the disk when no application is running?

Well, first I would find out what is being written. Your file system is
probably not that big-- find out which file is changing and what is
being put into it.

Ulrich Holeschak <uholeschak@hotmail.com> wrote:
The kernel will be flushing buffers and managing swap, at least!

Peter

In article <1c034904.0312281236.2cbf791f@posting.google.com>,
Ulrich Holeschak <uholeschak@hotmail.com> wrote:
:I have Linux Kernel 2.4.21 running on a compact flash. To prevent
:steady writing of the flash i am using rams disks for /etc /dev and
:/var. This works fine als long as i mount the flash file system read
nly.
:
:But when i mount it read write (what is sometimes an advantage),
:something starts to write to the root partition (i can see this, when
:i look at /proc/stat disk_io every 40 seconds. Also if i boot with
:init=/bin/sh the same thing happens and in this case only sh is
:running!

My guess would be that the shell is checking for new mail. Try mounting
with the "noatime" option.

--
Bob Nichols AT interaccess.com I am "rnichols"

Robert Nichols <SEE_SIGNATURE@localhost.localdomain.invalid> wrote in message news:<bso4bk$fcl$1@omega-3.right.here>...
Thanks, "noatime" is the solution! I have searched for so long what is
the reason for the writing, now it's working perfect!