[arch-projects] [mkinitcpio] boot times with different COMPRESSIONs

[Tom Gundersen]

Hi guys,

We have a lot of compression options now for mkinitcpio, so I figured
I'd try to measure which one gives us the fastest boot. I guess boot
speed is the most important metric when deciding which one to choose.

The measurements were done on an Lenovo ThinkPad x60, with an Intel
Core 2 processor and an 5400 rpm HDD, so your milage might obviously
vary.

Here are my numbers:

xz
Startup finished in 710ms (kernel) + 2526ms (initrd) + 14335ms
(userspace) = 17572ms
Startup finished in 610ms (kernel) + 2448ms (initrd) + 48159ms
(userspace) = 51218ms
Startup finished in 710ms (kernel) + 2458ms (initrd) + 11294ms
(userspace) = 14462ms
Startup finished in 720ms (kernel) + 2488ms (initrd) + 12271ms
(userspace) = 15480ms
Startup finished in 710ms (kernel) + 2446ms (initrd) + 9602ms
(userspace) = 12758ms

gzip
Startup finished in 560ms (kernel) + 2422ms (initrd) + 9917ms
(userspace) = 12899ms
Startup finished in 560ms (kernel) + 2445ms (initrd) + 9734ms
(userspace) = 12740ms
Startup finished in 560ms (kernel) + 2451ms (initrd) + 10544ms
(userspace) = 13556ms
Startup finished in 560ms (kernel) + 2427ms (initrd) + 9756ms
(userspace) = 12744ms
Startup finished in 570ms (kernel) + 2439ms (initrd) + 9823ms
(userspace) = 12832ms

bzip2
Startup finished in 810ms (kernel) + 2428ms (initrd) + 9690ms
(userspace) = 12928ms
Startup finished in 810ms (kernel) + 2448ms (initrd) + 9635ms
(userspace) = 12893ms
Startup finished in 810ms (kernel) + 2504ms (initrd) + 10212ms
(userspace) = 13526ms
Startup finished in 810ms (kernel) + 2445ms (initrd) + 8838ms
(userspace) = 12094ms
Startup finished in 820ms (kernel) + 2438ms (initrd) + 9613ms
(userspace) = 12871ms

lzma
Startup finished in 790ms (kernel) + 2441ms (initrd) + 9335ms
(userspace) = 12567ms
Startup finished in 790ms (kernel) + 2442ms (initrd) + 9662ms
(userspace) = 12895ms
Startup finished in 770ms (kernel) + 2432ms (initrd) + 10199ms
(userspace) = 13401ms
Startup finished in 770ms (kernel) + 2425ms (initrd) + 9922ms
(userspace) = 13117ms
Startup finished in 770ms (kernel) + 2435ms (initrd) + 9502ms
(userspace) = 12708ms

lzop
Startup finished in 550ms (kernel) + 2461ms (initrd) + 10730ms
(userspace) = 13742ms
Startup finished in 570ms (kernel) + 2421ms (initrd) + 20680ms
(userspace) = 23671ms
Startup finished in 550ms (kernel) + 2435ms (initrd) + 8752ms
(userspace) = 11738ms
Startup finished in 570ms (kernel) + 2454ms (initrd) + 9575ms
(userspace) = 12600ms
Startup finished in 550ms (kernel) + 2453ms (initrd) + 8540ms
(userspace) = 11543ms

Cheers,

Tom