---
name: "preload"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "preload"
version: "0.6.4-5+b2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/preload"
---

# preload(8)

Adaptive readahead daemon

## NAME

preload - Adaptive readahead daemon

## SYNOPSIS

**preload** \[*OPTION*\]...

## DESCRIPTION

preload is an adaptive readahead daemon that prefetches files mapped by applications from the disk to reduce application startup time.

- **-h**, **--help**

  Display command line parameters and their default values, and exit.

- **-v**, **--version**

  Display version information and exit.

- **-c**, **--conffile**

  Set configuration file. Empty string means no conf file. (default is */etc/preload.conf*)

- **-s**, **--statefile**

  Set state file to load/save. Empty string means no state. (default is */var/lib/preload/preload.state*)

- **-l**, **--logfile**

  Set log file. Empty string means to log to stderr. (default is */var/log/preload.log*)

- **-f**, **--foreground**

  Run in foreground, do not daemonize.

- **-n**, **--nice**

  Nice level. (default is 15)

- **-V**, **--verbose**

  Set the verbosity level.  Levels 0 to 10 are recognized. (default is 4)

- **-d**, **--debug**

  Debug mode: **--logfile** '' **--foreground** **--verbose** 9

## SIGNALS

On receipt of a SIGHUP, the daemon will close and reopen its log file, and reread the configuration file.

On receipt of a SIGUSR1, the daemon dumps the currently loaded configuration into the log file.

On receipt of a SIGUSR2, the daemon saves its state into the state file.

## AUTHOR

Written by Behdad Esfahbod \<behdad@gnu.org\>

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to \<http://preload.sf.net/bug\>

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2005,2006,2007,2008 Behdad Esfahbod.\
 This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.  There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.