tmpfs /var/tmp?

[Yahoé]

I've implemented tmpfs on my Quantal setup, but I have a question about /var/tmp.
Most SSD optimization pages recommend something lilke:
tmpfs /var/tmp tmpfs defaults,noatime,mode=1777,size=10% 0 0
However, the archlinux wiki says: "Do NOT use it on /var/tmp, because that folder is meant for temporary files that are preserved across reboots."
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Fstab

Could a savvy forum member please clarify if yes or no I should have it in tmpfs for a SSD setup,

[cariboo907]

This should clarify things for you.

[Paddy Landau]

/var/tmp is intended to hold "temporary" files across boots.

There is supposed to be an automatic process to clear out old files regularly.

I do not know what effect there would be if you were to put it on temps; but, presumably, some programs would lose their state.

[Yahoé]

Thanks guys, it all confirms that /var/tmp should not be in tmpfs.

[zika]

Thanks guys, it all confirms that /var/tmp should not be in tmpfs.

I've kept it for year+ in tmpfs and did not encounter any ill effect... So, it is kinda inconclusive...

tmpfs        /tmp           tmpfs    defaults,noatime    0    0
tmpfs        /var/run       tmpfs    defaults,noatime    0    0
tmpfs        /var/lock      tmpfs    defaults,noatime    0    0
tmpfs        /var/log       tmpfs    defaults,noatime    0    0
tmpfs        /var/run       tmpfs    defaults,noatime    0    0
tmpfs        /var/mail      tmpfs    defaults,noatime    0    0
tmpfs        /var/spool     tmpfs    defaults,noatime    0    0
tmpfs        /var/tmp       tmpfs    defaults,noatime    0    0
tmpfs        /var/cache     tmpfs    defaults,noatime    0    0

P.S. The only caveat is that this way /tmp could get filled... But, a bit of care and that is also non-problem...

[Paddy Landau]

I think zika has given you the answer. You do not need /var/tmp to be on your SSD; it just makes it a bit easier for a few applications to maintain state. If you have the RAM, why not try it in tmpfs?

But I wouldn't put /tmp in tmpfs, because when working on large files (for example when I record and edit videos and audio), there wouldn't be sufficient space.

[funicorn]

Archlinux is different. If you just want to make an easy tmpfs, you can mount it to /tmp.

[zika]

But I wouldn't put /tmp in tmpfs, because when working on large files (for example when I record and edit videos and audio), there wouldn't be sufficient space.

Totally true. I emphasized that this only my experience and that I'm able to contain my needs for /tmp accordingly within my RAM... Even in the case that You mention I think there might be a way to redirect (temporary and output) files (only) from those applications in a folder that resides on HDD and thus prevent any problem. I know I did...

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php...46&postcount=3 reminded me that putting /var/cache in tmpfs might be a bad idea. I'll investigate more. This thread made me open tmpfs again and it seems that I should have read my notes before that... There was one reinstall in the meantime at the end of testing 12.04... and...
Update: Yes, it seems that putting /var/cache in tmpfs produced error in http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php...46&postcount=3 . Mea culpa...

[Paddy Landau]

… there might be a way to redirect (temporary and output) files (only) from those applications in a folder that resides on HDD…

Indeed, some applications provide that option. Not all do so, though; and, especially in the case of a shared computer, this could cause confusion and errors.

There is a way to "combine" two folders into a single one, thus make /tmp in tmpfs with an overflow on the HDD or SSD, using unionfs (the mount-point version seems to be unavailable on Ubuntu, but you can install and use unionfs-fuse). I have not tested this thoroughly, though, so I do not know the restrictions and caveats.

Update: Yes, it seems that putting /var/cache in tmpfs produced error in http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php...46&postcount=3 .

Thanks for that update.

[Paddy Landau]

New discovery:

Making /var/cache transient disables the Ubuntu Software Centre, which fails with an error. (I now have to fix this.)

Therefore, leave /var/cache on the HDD or SSD!