What can I do to speed up my file system copy

[Nils Kassube]

Aron wrote:
> Just like the title,what can I do to speed up my file system copy.I
> heard about that using cache can speed up big file's copy,but I don't
> know how to do that.

The Linux kernel uses a cache automatically, there is nothing needed to 
activate it.

> If possible,I prefer that when I copy some small 
> files, the system don't use cache but write on the harddisk
> immediately,but when I copy a file that it is bigger than a specific
> size,the system use the cache to speed up the operate.

I don't think you can switch caching off. However, if you want your files 
to be written to disk immediately, you can use the command sync (in a 
terminal).

> I also heard that 
> NFS server have some feature like this,but I am not sure,because I
> really know little about this.

NFS is a bit different than regular disks, but I think it depends on the 
client, not the server. You can use the mount option sync when you mount 
the NFS share to have data written immediately, but using that option 
will slow down the writing speed. I don't know of a way to switch it on 
or off for specific copy commands, other than remounting the share. The 
mount option is permanent as long as the share is mounted.


Nils