From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id ; Thu, 15 Mar 2001 08:25:15 -0500 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id ; Thu, 15 Mar 2001 08:24:55 -0500 Received: from x86unx3.comp.nus.edu.sg ([137.132.90.2]:42953 "EHLO x86unx3.comp.nus.edu.sg") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id ; Thu, 15 Mar 2001 08:24:43 -0500 Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2001 21:23:41 +0800 From: Zou Min To: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Subject: A simple question on buffer/cache Message-ID: <20010315212341.B7191@comp.nus.edu.sg> Mail-Followup-To: Zou Min , linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline User-Agent: Mutt/1.2.5i Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Hi, Just wonder what exactly the difference between buffer and cache in linux memory management is. Cache is used for filesystems, so that files read from a fs are kept in memory in order to provide faster access next time. Then what is buffer used for? As executables are also kept in memory, are they in cache or buffer? Can somebody give any details on this? Many thanks! -- Cheers! --Zou Min ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Any technology indistinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced."