Re: MD Raid 6: poor algorithm choice?

From: Chris Boot
Date: Thu Feb 23 2006 - 16:34:28 EST


thunder7@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
From: Chris Boot <bootc@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, Feb 23, 2006 at 06:00:10PM +0000
Hi all,

[4295106.474000] raid6: mmxx2 2500 MB/s
[4295106.521000] raid6: sse1x2 2339 MB/s
[4295106.524000] raid6: using algorithm sse1x2 (2339 MB/s)
[4295106.531000] md: raid6 personality registered for level 6

I just loaded the raid6 module for fun (might end up using it one day), and I was surprised at its choice of algorithm. By the messages above, I would have assumed it would choose the mmxx2 algorithm at 2500 MB/s instead of sse1x2 at the slightly slower 2339 MB/s. This is probably entirely expected behaviour, but why?

Because it is more cache-efficient (allows the other code to run at a
higher speed). This comes up now and again, perhaps these messages
should be rephrased.
I knew there would be a good reason for this, I just couldn't figure it out from those messages. That's a very good explanation indeed, and as you say, perhaps the messages should be updated.

Cheers,
Chris

--
Chris Boot
bootc@xxxxxxxxx
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