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I just had to rename a large directory inside /root in FossaDog. Renaming is usually an instantaneous operation, but this one took a loooooong time... I could see it was performing a full copy operation, as if I was moving it to another file system.
I did it again with a slightly smaller directory, but also large. Again, a looong time...
Running 'sync' after each operation also takes a looong time...
Why?
I replaced /root with a symlink to a copy of it in another partition.
There was a little resistance, the system put up a fight, but my will prevailed.
Now everything is remarkably fast. I've never seen my OS run so fast. Even the browser loads the pages faster.
Looks like /root was holding the machine back.
What is going on?! What is the deal with /root in this OS?
Hi Luluc
Have to guess since you provided no info: hard drive.
Vektor
@Luluc Can't see anything special about the /root directory.
I do know that renaming is often tricky on a layered filesystem (FossaDog is still using "aufs", newer DebianDogs now use "overlayfs").
When trying to rename with pcmanfm, I get "Invalid cross-device link" error, using mv from terminal should work, but may depend on e.g. if the file/folder to rename exists in the main .squashfs or (only) in the save-storage.
But frankly I don't know enough about the mechanism. Perhaps better ask about renaming in another (general) section.