Re: [RFC] Arch option to touch newly allocated pages

[Benjamin LaHaise <bcrl@redhat.com>]

On Thu, Mar 07, 2002 at 12:14:15AM +0100, Daniel Phillips wrote:
> On March 6, 2002 05:36 pm, Benjamin LaHaise wrote:
> > On Wed, Mar 06, 2002 at 04:24:17PM +0100, Daniel Phillips wrote:
> > > On March 6, 2002 04:24 pm, Benjamin LaHaise wrote:
> > > > On Wed, Mar 06, 2002 at 03:59:22PM +0100, Daniel Phillips wrote:
> > > > > Suppose you have 512 MB memory and an equal amount of swap.  You start 8
> > > > > umls with 64 MB each.  With your and Peter's suggestion, the system always
> > > > > goes into swap.  Whereas if the memory is only allocated on demand it
> > > > > probably doesn't.
> > > > 
> > > > As I said previously, going into swap is preferable over randomly killing 
> > > > new tasks under heavy load.
> > > 
> > > Huh?  In the example I gave, you will never oom but with your suggestion, you
> > > will always go needlessly go into swap.  I'm suprised that you and Peter are
> > > aguing in favor of wasting resources.
> > 
> > I'm arguing in favour of predictable behaviour.  Stability and reliability 
> > are more important than a bit of swap space.
> 
> That's the same argument that says memory overcommit should not be allowed.

Go back in the thread: I suggested making it an option that the user has to 
turn on to allow his foot to be shot.  Remember: the common case in the kernel 
is to be using all memory.

		-ben
-- 
"A man with a bass just walked in,
 and he's putting it down
 on the floor."