Re: [PATCH 3/3] readahead: scale max readahead size depending on memory size

[Jens Axboe <jens.axboe@oracle.com>]

On Mon, Jul 23 2007, Jörn Engel wrote:
> On Sun, 22 July 2007 18:44:03 +0200, Jens Axboe wrote:
> > > 
> > > >  I agree with the low point of 128k.
> > > 
> > > Perhaps that should be enforced then, because currently a system with
> > > <64M will get less.
> > 
> > I think it should remain the low point.
> 
> I believe this whole thing is fundamentally flawed.  The perfect
> readahead size depends on the device in question.  If we set a single
> system-wide value depending on memory size, it may easily be too small
> and too large at the same time.  Think hard disk and SSD.
> 
> It may make sense to have a _maximum_ readahead size which depends on
> memory size.  But the preferred size (if there is enough RAM) should
> depend solely on the device, possibly as a function of the
> bandwidth * read latency product.

The value IS the maximum read-ahead value, not an enforced minimum.

However, there's definitely room for improvement in the queue feedback.
Even for seekless devices like SSD, read-ahead may be beneficial due to
zero request -> request latency.

-- 
Jens Axboe