2003-12-11, 04:51 PM
Speed up Red Hat 9's default disk access. To do this it helps if you have knowledge of vi (a console based text editor). As root issue this command in a console
vi /etc/sysconfig/harddisks
This will open a text file with certain settings disabled by default, we are going to enable those commands and as a result increase the speed of hard disc access in Red Hat.
First, lets find the line which reads as follows
#USE_DMA=1
and now delete the # so that the line now reads
USE_DMA=1
Now, scroll down and find the line which reads
#EIDE_32BIT=3
and delete the # so that the line now reads
EIDE_32BIT=3
Next, find a line which reads
#LOOKAHEAD=1
and again, delete the # so that the line now reads
LOOKAHEAD=1
Thats it, you are done, now lets SAVE our changes in vi by typing
:wq
The : (colon) allows use to 'type' a command in vi, if you see INSERT or REPLACE instead, press ESC then try again.
Think of the w and q as:-
w=write
q=quit
Once done, time how long something takes to start like Mozilla or OpenOffice. Then reboot the computer and time again, notice the difference ? ;-)