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17 changes: 17 additions & 0 deletions docs/src/man/bootc-usr-overlay.8.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -19,6 +19,23 @@ A common pattern is wanting to use tracing/debugging tools, such as
such as `apt` or `dnf` can apply changes into this transient overlay
that will be discarded on reboot.

## STORAGE AND MEMORY REQUIREMENTS

The transient overlay is backed by a `tmpfs` filesystem, which means all
data written to the overlay (i.e. installed packages) is stored in
**system memory (RAM)**, not on persistent disk. By default the kernel
sizes this `tmpfs` at 50% of physical RAM.

On systems with limited memory, installing large packages into the
overlay can exhaust available RAM and result in `ENOSPC` ("No space left
on device") errors. There is currently no pre-flight space check and no
early warning before the `tmpfs` is full.

Keep this in mind when using transient overlays in memory-constrained
environments such as CI runners or small virtual machines. If the
combined size of the packages being installed approaches half of the
system's RAM, consider increasing the VM's memory allocation instead.

## /ETC AND /VAR

However, this command has no effect on `/etc` and `/var` - changes
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