Re: generalizing khttpd

H. Peter Anvin (hpa@transmeta.com)
11 Jun 1999 02:29:00 GMT


Followup to: <37606048.82A981AB@wserv.com>
By author: Jordan Mendelson <jordy@wserv.com>
In newsgroup: linux.dev.kernel
>
> Christoph Lameter wrote:
> >
> > You are talking about a function call taking a filehandle and a socket
> > which would send the file contents directly onto the socket right?
> >
> > something like send_file(filehandle,sockethandle)
>
> If that's the only thing khttpd gains from being in the kernel then
> yes. Is the sendfile syscall which exists right now somehow inferior
> to khttpd in terms of raw speed and efficiency of outputing a file
> to a socket?
>
> I was under the impression that khttpd had other reasons for going
> kernel mode such as faster ability to get timestamps and what not on
> the file itself.
>

Actually, the main reason would be to avoid the context switch to user
mode and back after the packet arrives; in addition, on the more
exotic level it would be possible for it to do odd thinks like keep
things cached in ready-made skbuffs.

-hpa

-- 
"The user's computer downloads the ActiveX code and simulates a 'Blue
Screen' crash, a generally benign event most users are familiar with
and that would not necessarily arouse suspicions."
-- Security exploit description on http://www.zks.net/p3/how.asp

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