Booting Faster

Explore strategies for accelerating system boot times in this 47-minute conference talk from linux.conf.au. Dive deep into the full stack of a computer's boot process, from firmware to operating system, to identify bottlenecks and optimize performance. Learn about efforts to reduce boot times on OpenPOWER systems, comparing single-socket desktops to multi-socket enterprise servers. Discover techniques for measuring and improving cold boot, warm boot, and reboot times. Examine the impact of various components like PCI, RAM, and display output on overall boot speed. Gain insights into the challenges of balancing boot time optimization with system functionality and user expectations. Analyze the effectiveness of different approaches, including distro tricks, hardware upgrades, and firmware optimizations. Understand the complexities of booting large-scale systems and the unique challenges they present. Consider the role of BMCs, graphics cards, and other hardware in the boot process. Leave with a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing boot times and practical strategies for achieving significant improvements across various system configurations.