linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH -mm] vmscan: make mapped executable pages the first class citizen

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Date:	Sun, 10 May 2009 18:29:43 +0900
From:	KOSAKI Motohiro <kosaki.motohiro@...fujitsu.com>
To:	Wu Fengguang <fengguang.wu@...el.com>
Cc:	Alan Cox <alan@...rguk.ukuu.org.uk>,
	Andrew Morton <akpm@...ux-foundation.org>,
	"hannes@...xchg.org" <hannes@...xchg.org>,
	"peterz@...radead.org" <peterz@...radead.org>,
	"riel@...hat.com" <riel@...hat.com>,
	"linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org" <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
	"tytso@....edu" <tytso@....edu>,
	"linux-mm@...ck.org" <linux-mm@...ck.org>,
	"elladan@...imo.com" <elladan@...imo.com>,
	"npiggin@...e.de" <npiggin@...e.de>,
	"cl@...ux-foundation.org" <cl@...ux-foundation.org>,
	"minchan.kim@...il.com" <minchan.kim@...il.com>
Subject: Re: [PATCH -mm] vmscan: make mapped executable pages the first class 
	citizen

>> >> The patch seems reasonable but the changelog and the (non-existent)
>> >> design documentation could do with a touch-up.
>> >
>> > Is it right that I as a user can do things like mmap my database
>> > PROT_EXEC to get better database numbers by making other
>> > stuff swap first ?
>> >
>> > You seem to be giving everyone a "nice my process up" hack.
>>
>> How about this?
>
> Why it deserves more tricks? PROT_EXEC pages are rare.
> If user space is to abuse PROT_EXEC, let them be for it ;-)

yes, typicall rare.
tha problem is, user program _can_ use PROT_EXEC for get higher priority
ahthough non-executable memory.

In general, static priority mechanism have one weakness. if all object
have higher
priority, it break priority mechanism.


>> if priority < DEF_PRIORITY-2, aggressive lumpy reclaim in
>> shrink_inactive_list() already
>> reclaim the active page forcely.
>
> Isn't lumpy reclaim now enabled by (and only by) non-zero order?

you are right. but I only say the kernel already have policy changing threashold
for preventing worst case.


>> then, this patch don't change kernel reclaim policy.
>>
>> anyway, user process non-changable preventing "nice my process up
>> hack" seems makes sense to me.
>>
>> test result:
>>
>> echo 100 > /proc/sys/vm/dirty_ratio
>> echo 100 > /proc/sys/vm/dirty_background_ratio
>> run modified qsbench (use mmap(PROT_EXEC) instead malloc)
>>
>>            active2active vs active2inactive ratio
>> before    5:5
>> after       1:9
>
> Do you have scripts for producing such numbers? I'm dreaming to have
> such tools :-)

I made stastics showing patch for testing, hehe :)

---
 include/linux/vmstat.h |    1 +
 mm/vmstat.c            |    1 +
 2 files changed, 2 insertions(+)

Index: b/include/linux/vmstat.h
===================================================================
--- a/include/linux/vmstat.h    2009-02-17 07:34:38.000000000 +0900
+++ b/include/linux/vmstat.h    2009-05-10 02:36:37.000000000 +0900
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ enum vm_event_item { PGPGIN, PGPGOUT, PS
                UNEVICTABLE_PGSTRANDED, /* unable to isolate on unlock */
                UNEVICTABLE_MLOCKFREED,
 #endif
+               FOR_ALL_ZONES(PGA2A),
                NR_VM_EVENT_ITEMS
 };

Index: b/mm/vmstat.c
===================================================================
--- a/mm/vmstat.c       2009-05-10 01:08:36.000000000 +0900
+++ b/mm/vmstat.c       2009-05-10 02:37:18.000000000 +0900
@@ -708,6 +708,7 @@ static const char * const vmstat_text[]
        "unevictable_pgs_stranded",
        "unevictable_pgs_mlockfreed",
 #endif
+       TEXTS_FOR_ZONES("pga2a")
 #endif
 };



>> please don't ask performance number. I haven't reproduce Wu's patch
>> improvemnt ;)
>
> That's why I decided to "explain" instead of "benchmark" the benefits
> of my patch, hehe.

okey, I see.
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