linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH] mm: add config option to select the initial overcommit mode

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Message-ID: <5735F386.2070604@laposte.net>
Date:	Fri, 13 May 2016 17:32:22 +0200
From:	Sebastian Frias <sf84@...oste.net>
To:	One Thousand Gnomes <gnomes@...rguk.ukuu.org.uk>,
	Mason <slash.tmp@...e.fr>
CC:	Michal Hocko <mhocko@...nel.org>, linux-mm@...ck.org,
	Andrew Morton <akpm@...ux-foundation.org>,
	Linus Torvalds <torvalds@...ux-foundation.org>,
	LKML <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>
Subject: Re: [PATCH] mm: add config option to select the initial overcommit
 mode

Hi Alan,

On 05/13/2016 05:11 PM, One Thousand Gnomes wrote:
>> It seems important to point out that Sebastian's patch does NOT change
>> the default behavior. It merely creates a knob allowing one to override
>> the default via Kconfig.
>>
>> +choice
>> +	prompt "Overcommit Mode"
>> +	default OVERCOMMIT_GUESS
>> +	depends on EXPERT
> 
> Which is still completely pointless given that its a single sysctl value
> set at early userspace time and most distributions ship with things like
> sysctl and /etc/sysctl.conf
> 

You are right, and I said that when the thread started, but I think most people here are looking at this from a server/desktop perspective.
Also, we wanted to have more background on this setting, its history, etc. thus this discussion.
It would be interesting in know what other people working on embedded systems think about this subject, because most examples given are for much bigger systems.

Best regards,

Sebastian