# Boot Performance Optimization for Simple-CLI ## 🎯 Overview This document outlines the boot performance optimizations implemented in Simple-CLI to address the "boots slow" issue identified in the project. ## 🚀 Boot Performance Optimizations ### 1. Kernel Parameter Optimizations #### Memory Management ```bash # Optimize memory management for faster boot vm.swappiness = 1 # Reduce swap usage vm.dirty_ratio = 15 # Optimize writeback behavior vm.dirty_background_ratio = 5 # Background writeback threshold ``` #### Kernel Logging ```bash # Reduce kernel logging overhead during boot kernel.printk = 3 4 1 3 # Minimize console output ``` #### Security Optimizations ```bash # Disable address space randomization for faster boot kernel.randomize_va_space = 0 # Note: Security trade-off ``` ### 2. Systemd Boot Optimizations #### Timeout Reductions ```bash # Reduce service timeouts for faster boot DefaultTimeoutStartSec=15s # Faster service start DefaultTimeoutStopSec=15s # Faster service stop DefaultRestartSec=100ms # Faster service restart ``` #### Parallel Boot - Services start in parallel where possible - Dependencies optimized for concurrent execution - Reduced sequential bottlenecks ### 3. GRUB Boot Optimizations #### Boot Timeout ```bash GRUB_TIMEOUT=1 # Minimal boot menu delay GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0 # Hide boot menu by default GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET=true # Quiet hidden timeout ``` #### Kernel Parameters ```bash # Optimized kernel command line console=ttyS0 # Serial console for faster output root=/dev/sda1 # Direct root device specification rw # Read-write root filesystem quiet # Reduce kernel output splash # Show boot splash fastboot # Enable fast boot optimizations ``` ## 🔧 Implementation ### Containerfile Optimizations The optimizations are built into the container image: ```dockerfile # Boot performance optimizations RUN echo "kernel.printk = 3 4 1 3" > /etc/sysctl.d/99-boot-performance.conf && \ echo "vm.swappiness = 1" >> /etc/sysctl.d/99-boot-performance.conf && \ echo "vm.dirty_ratio = 15" >> /etc/sysctl.d/99-boot-performance.conf && \ echo "vm.dirty_background_ratio = 5" >> /etc/sysctl.d/99-boot-performance.conf # Systemd boot optimizations RUN mkdir -p /etc/systemd/system.conf.d && \ echo "[Manager]" > /etc/systemd/system.conf.d/99-boot-performance.conf && \ echo "DefaultTimeoutStartSec=30s" >> /etc/systemd/system.conf.d/99-boot-performance.conf && \ echo "DefaultTimeoutStopSec=30s" >> /etc/systemd/system.conf.d/99-boot-performance.conf && \ echo "DefaultRestartSec=100ms" >> /etc/systemd/system.conf.d/99-boot-performance.conf ``` ### Runtime Optimizations Additional optimizations can be applied at runtime: ```bash # Disable unnecessary services systemctl disable systemd-networkd-wait-online.service systemctl disable systemd-resolved.service # Enable parallel boot systemctl enable systemd-analyze ``` ## 📊 Performance Measurement ### Built-in Tools Simple-CLI includes comprehensive boot performance measurement: ```bash # Measure total boot time systemd-analyze time # Identify slowest services systemd-analyze blame # Analyze critical boot chain systemd-analyze critical-chain # Generate boot timeline systemd-analyze plot ``` ### Analysis Script Use the built-in analysis script: ```bash # Quick analysis just analyze-boot # Enable verbose logging just enable-verbose-boot # Apply optimizations just optimize-boot # Full optimization just full-boot-optimization # Quick check just quick-boot-check ``` ## 🎯 Expected Results ### Before Optimization - **Typical boot time**: 30-60 seconds - **Bottlenecks**: Service timeouts, sequential startup, verbose logging - **Issues**: Network wait, DNS resolution delays, unnecessary services ### After Optimization - **Target boot time**: 15-25 seconds - **Improvements**: Parallel service startup, reduced timeouts, optimized memory - **Benefits**: Faster development cycles, better user experience ## 🔍 Troubleshooting ### Common Issues 1. **Services failing to start**: Check timeout values 2. **Network connectivity**: Verify network service dependencies 3. **Boot failures**: Review kernel parameters ### Debug Mode Enable verbose logging for troubleshooting: ```bash # Enable debug logging just enable-verbose-boot # Check boot configuration just analyze-boot ``` ### Performance Monitoring Monitor boot performance over time: ```bash # Regular performance checks just quick-boot-check # Detailed analysis just analyze-boot ``` ## 📚 References - [systemd Boot Performance](https://systemd.io/BOOT_PERFORMANCE/) - [GRUB Boot Optimization](https://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/grub/html_node/Command_002dline-and-menu-entry-commands.html) - [Kernel Parameters](https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.html) - [Debian Boot Optimization](https://wiki.debian.org/BootProcess) ## 🚀 Future Improvements ### Planned Optimizations 1. **Initramfs optimization**: Reduce initramfs size and load time 2. **Service parallelization**: Further optimize service dependencies 3. **Kernel module loading**: Optimize driver loading sequence 4. **Filesystem optimization**: Tune filesystem parameters for boot ### Research Areas 1. **Alternative init systems**: Investigate faster alternatives to systemd 2. **Kernel compilation**: Optimize kernel configuration for boot speed 3. **Hardware-specific**: Optimize for specific hardware configurations