Re: [patch] `cp /dev/zero /tmp' (patch against 2.2.9)

Riley Williams (rhw@MemAlpha.CX)
Sun, 6 Jun 1999 17:25:38 +0100 (GMT)


Hi Mike.

>> I think the problem is the current flushing that is not able to
>> share the I/O bandwith with readers.

>> Here it is my idea that I am testing since some day ago. It
>> completly avoid the DoS doing `cp /dev/zero /tmp'. Now a `find`
>> go fast near as there wouldn't be a `cp /dev/zero /tmp' in
>> background. It improves (or better it gives you :) the
>> iteractive response while kflushd is doing its work. It seems to
>> have no impact on normal write performances. It seems to only
>> avoid the readers-starvation and I am quite happy with it.

> This patch cured another DoS... Pine! If you have tired old
> disks (me), closing a large (lk) mail-box would freeze the
> machine for several very annoying seconds while it rewrote the
> file. --annoyance ;-)

I have to say that I hadn't looked on that behaviour as a DoS attack,
but that is one delay I will be very happy to see removed.

Best wishes from Riley.

+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| There is something frustrating about the quality and speed of Linux |
| development, ie., the quality is too high and the speed is too high, |
| in other words, I can implement this XXXX feature, but I bet someone |
| else has already done so and is just about to release their patch. |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
* ftp://ftp.MemAlpha.cx/pub/rhw/Linux
* http://www.MemAlpha.cx/kernel.versions.html

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