[PLUG] Question About Linux Behavior

[fh hillsboro]

I run ~10 KDE workspaces each with several windows open - mostly 
browsers and mail clients and terminals.  The system is also my mail 
server and listserv server.  After a period of no user activity, it 
seems that there is nothing in memory except the disk cache.  When I get 
back from $tarbuck$ and user activity resumes, there is significant 
latency while the disk beats it's brains out reloading everything back 
into memory (like 20-30 seconds for thunderbird to get it's brains back, 
for instance).  Is there any way to keep the applications from being 
swapped out in favor of (what I am assuming is) the disk cache?

-- 
Frank Hunt
Confused Linux Admin
General Nuisance
Web Weasel