RAM drive software can be used to speed up Internet page load times, control what files and programs are stored into memory (loaded at boot time), create temporary disks for added security, speed up disk-to-disk activities such as video and audio encoding, accelerate databases, reduce the compile time of other programs and many other uses.
Non-proprietary
Gavotte RamDisk
Uses Physical Address Extension to create a virtual disk in memory that can not be accessed by 32 bit versions of Microsoft Windows (memory above 4GB + remapped PCI hole).
ImDisk
ImDisk Virtual Disk Driver is a disk image emulator created by Olof Lagerkvist. It is Free software/Open source software. It is available in 32 and 64 bit variants and is digitally signed which makes it compatible with 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows without having to be run in Test mode. The 64-bit version has no practical limit to the size of a creatable RAM disk.[1]
RRamdisk
RAM disk plug-in for Bart's PE Builder
Proprietary
AMD Radeon RAMDisk
AMD Radeon RAMDisk was designed to take advantage of system memory to create a virtual drive enabling additional performance enhancements to a PC, including, according to AMD: loading games faster, faster reading and writing capabilities, more responsive and reliable web experience with faster page loads, privacy protection with auto-delete on boot or protection of data with auto-save on shutdown. AMD Radeon RAMDisk is a rebranded version of Dataram RAMDisk.
Dataram RAMDisk
Dataram's RAMDisk is freeware (up to 4GB disk size) and was originally developed and marketed by John Lajoie[2] through his private consulting company until 2001, when he sold his rights to Cenatek, before being acquired by Dataram. RAM disks larger than 4GB require registration and a USD$18.99 single-user license. When purchasing physical RAM from Dataram, the RAMDisk license is provided free of charge. Compatible with all 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2003.[3]
Gilisoft RAMDisk
An easy-to-use RAMDisk software for Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista/Windows 7 (x32 & x64) with simple setup, permits mounting-and-unmounting of RAMDisk images to/from drive-image-files, and automated/convenient startup/shutdown features, $25.
QSOFT Ramdisk Enterprise
A reliable RAM Disk compatible with all Windows Workstation and Server OS versions (32- and 64-bit) starting from Windows 2000. Prices vary from $9 to $25. New , full featured evaluation versions are provided every 3 months , allowing users to update a nearly expiring version. A separate installer is provided as well.[4]
SoftPerfect RAM Disk
Available for Windows XP, 2003, 2008, Vista, 7 and 8. Allows for RAM disks up to 3.5 GB on 32-bit systems and any size on 64-bit. Multiple RAM disks can be created, and can be persisted to an on-disk image.[5] Free for non-commercial use. A commercial use license starts at $49, and discounts are offered for quantities over 5.[6]
StarWind Software makes a freeware RAM disk software for mounting memory as actual drives within Windows. Both x86 and x64 versions exist. Up to 1 GB.
SuperSpeed RamDisk (Plus)
A RAM Disk that can use installed memory over 4 GB in 32 bit Windows, also compatible with Windows 7 x64, $40 to $100 depending on features.
VSuite Ramdisk
A RAM Disk that can use installed memory over 4 GB in 32 bit Windows, also compatible with Windows 7 x64, Free to $120 depending on features.
Microsoft Ramdisk.sys sample driver for Windows 2000
Microsoft Windows offers a RAM disk for Windows 2000 as part of the Windows Driver Kit. It's available as free download.[7]
Native
Windows also has a rough analog to Tmpfs in the form of "temporary files". Files created with both FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TEMPORARY and FILE_FLAG_DELETE_ON_CLOSE are held in memory and only written to disk if the system experiences low memory pressure.[8] In this way they behave like tmpfs, except the files are written to the specified path during low memory situations rather than swap space. This technique is often used by servers along with TransmitFile to render content to a buffer before sending to the client.
Ramdiskadm
Ramdiskadm is a utility found in the Solaris (operating system) to dynamically add and destroy ramdisk volumes of any user defined sizes. An example of how to use ramdiskadm to add a new RAM disk in a Solaris environment is as follows:
$ ramdiskadm -a ramdisk1 100m
To destroy the RAM disk:
$ ramdiskadm -d ramdisk1
All created RAM disks can be accessed from the /dev/ramdisk directory path and treated like any other block device; that is, accessed like a physical block device, labeled with a file system and mounted, to even used in a ZFS pool.[9]
RapidDisk
RapidDisk is a free and open source project containing a Linux kernel module and administration utility that functions similar to the Ramdiskadm of the Solaris (operating system). With the rxadm utility, the user is capable of dynamically attaching, removing, and resizing RAM disk volumes and treat them like any other block device.[10]
An example of how to use tmpfs in a Linux environment is as follows:
$ mkdir /var/ramdisk
Once the mount point is identified the mount command can be used to mount a tmpfs file system on top of that mount point:
$ mount -t tmpfs none /var/ramdisk -o size=28m
Now each time /var/ramdisk is accessed all reads and writes will be coming directly from memory.[11]
External links
References
