linux-kernel - Re: [RFC 00/15] x86_64: Optimize percpu accesses

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Date:	Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:37:02 -0700
From:	Mike Travis <travis@....com>
To:	"H. Peter Anvin" <hpa@...or.com>
CC:	"Eric W. Biederman" <ebiederm@...ssion.com>,
	Christoph Lameter <cl@...ux-foundation.org>,
	Jeremy Fitzhardinge <jeremy@...p.org>,
	Ingo Molnar <mingo@...e.hu>,
	Andrew Morton <akpm@...ux-foundation.org>,
	Jack Steiner <steiner@....com>, linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org,
	Arjan van de Ven <arjan@...radead.org>
Subject: Re: [RFC 00/15] x86_64: Optimize percpu accesses

H. Peter Anvin wrote:
> Mike Travis wrote:
>>
>> The biggest growth came from moving all the xxx[NR_CPUS] arrays into
>> the per cpu area.  So you free up a huge amount of unused memory when
>> the NR_CPUS count starts getting into the ozone layer.  4k now, 16k
>> real soon now, ??? future?
>>
> 
> Even (or perhaps especially) so, allocating the percpu area in 2 MB
> increments is a total nonstarter.  It hurts the small, common
> configurations way too much.  For SGI, it's probably fine.
> 
>     -hpa

Yes, "right-sizing" the kernel for systems from 512M laptops to 4k cpu
systems with memory totally maxed out, using only a binary distribution
has proven tricky (at best... ;-)

One alternative was to only allocate a chunk similar in size to
PERCPU_ENOUGH_ROOM and allow for startup options to create a bigger
space if needed.  Though the realloc idea has some merit if we can
validate the non-use of pointers to specific cpu's percpu vars.
(CPU_ALLOC contains a function to dereference a percpu offset.)

The discussion started at:

	http://marc.info/?l=linux-kernel&m=121212026716085&w=4

Thanks,
Mike
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