linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH] sched: Check nr_running before calling pick_next

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Message-ID: <CADZ9YHg6MBqi-2DkuYkKBbyJi2E-q_2+gpt8Os4DuVt5an+7uQ@mail.gmail.com>
Date:	Sun, 3 Jul 2011 14:07:21 +0600
From:	Rakib Mullick <rakib.mullick@...il.com>
To:	Peter Zijlstra <peterz@...radead.org>
Cc:	Ingo Molnar <mingo@...e.hu>,
	linux-kernel <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
	Paul Turner <pjt@...gle.com>
Subject: Re: [PATCH] sched: Check nr_running before calling pick_next_task in schedule().

On Sat, Jul 2, 2011 at 9:35 PM, Peter Zijlstra <peterz@...radead.org> wrote:
> On Sat, 2011-07-02 at 20:26 +0600, Rakib Mullick wrote:
>> Well, yes - branching seems definitely have some side effects.
>
> It adds the cost of the test as well as a possible branch mis-predict.
>
>> Thinking from UP's perspective, it will only hit slow path -- going
>> into idle.
>
> Uhm, no, every time the machine is busy and does a schedule between
> tasks you still get to do that extra nr_running test and branch.
>
Ok, for now I'm putting branch aside. I don't think checking
nr_running isn't extra, it should be norm. Cause, if this rq has no
nr_running it calls idle_balance, at that point due to idle_balance -
we might have moved task from other rq if idle_balance is successful.
But, idle_balance might not be successful that's why I was thinking
about checking nr_running is necessary, in that case we don't need to
call pick_next_task cause - we don't have any task.

>>  In that case, that likely branch will just fail. And on an
>> UP system that slow path -- going into idle -- is the only way, taking
>> the fast path (trying picking a task) isn't the right thing, isn't
>> it?
>
> I'm not at all sure I even understand what you're trying to say. I
> really don't understand what's the problem with going the long way with
> picking the idle task, the machine is idle, it doesn't have anything
> useful to do, who cares.
>
Well, yes the machine is idle. I got your point that you're
emphasizing that CPU is idle even if we take long path it doesn't
matter. But, when we've two ways, one is going through pick_next_task
other is calling idle_class straight I think calling idle_class is
better. Actually that's how I think (and certainly it differs from
yours). Note that, in pick_next_task there is branch, which checks
likely(nr_running==cfs->nr_running) - chances for hitting this branch
will increase - cause in case of !nr_running, pick_next_task won't be
called. It will reduce pick_next_task's calling overhead.

Thanks,
Rakib
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