Re: /var tmpfs ?

On 22.10.18 15:37, Michael wrote:
>I don't totally need to make /var a tmpfs, it's just out of curiosity, and
> for the simplicity of configuration.  Since /var/cache and /var/log are
> already tmpfs for me, and this extendet tmpfs setup works fine since at
> least 2 years, it seems to be interesting to check the other top folders
> of /var for that option too.
>
>> On 22.10.18 10:02, Michael wrote:
>> >Recently made a lot of stuff tmpfs (like /tmp and /var/cache and $HOME/.cache) and i'm not sure about this ...:
>> >
>> >Is there any reason why /var cannot be completely tmpfs ?
>>
>> /var contains huge amount of data that keep changing but must not be lost.
>
>ok, but shouldn't /var contain no configuration-like files ? In other words, are these all files to read or are they just only re-created everytime, thus only to write ? If so, then perhaps could i live with some extra time for starting services / apps to re-create things (if it's only within a second).
>
>For example, here are my /var topfolders:
>
>apt		-> empty
>backups	-> write-only; and i did never need these in about 15 years, so i guess i can live without.
>cache	-> already tmpfs
>lib		-> don't know XXX

e.g. /var/lib/mysql where mysql databases reside. don't remove.
also /var/lib/dpkg contains information about installed packages. Don't
remove unlesas you want to seriously break your system.

>local		-> empty
>lock		-> only a lockfile
>log		-> already tmpfs for me (if i ever need persistent logs, for specific reason, i'll just revert it. It's a desktop machine, rarely problems.)
>mail		-> don't need
>opt		-> empty
>run		-> already tmpf via Debian
>spool	-> cron/anacron, cups .... i guess, no need for persistent

crontabs, mail queues, also something no to lose.

>tmp		-> empty

fiels stored there are temporary, but to be preserved across reboots.

>That leaves /var/lib as a main candidate for problems, because i don't know the usage of what is stored here.

every time you install a package, it may use /var for something you wouldn't
be happy wen losing.
Simply said, don't use tmpfs for /var. Maybe concrete separate
subdirectories, but better none than sorry.