Buffer is a logical cache maintained by the operating system in the main memory while cache is actually a physical hardware that the cpu uses to decrease the effective memory access time.
Buffer cache is used to store the most recently accessed data from disk(or what so ever), so that they dont have to be fetched again from the disk. Its an optimization feature provided by the operating system. The Cache does similar thing but it sits between the cpu and the main memory and contains the most recently accessed data and instructions from the main memory so that in case they are accessed again, they need not be fetched again, thus improving the performance. Does that clear your doubt?? On Fri, 22 Oct 2004 00:37:10 -0700, Paul Johnson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > OK, this is probably the most obvious question ever, but I just can't > find it in Google or Wikipedia. > > Just what the heck is the difference between buffer and cache in terms > of memory usage? What is each catagory used for? > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: GnuPG v1.2.5 (GNU/Linux) > > iD8DBQFBeLimUzgNqloQMwcRAlfaAJwPwhMlo1HB6BsF0qxcUSpSsePK7wCgzD7w > /q75QNC/s+wKYxJoRfijzgE= > =tNee > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > > -- > To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
