Re: [Bug #11342] Linux 2.6.27-rc3: kernel BUG at mm/vmalloc.c - bisected

Greg Ungerer
2008-08-28T00:11:24Z

Jamie Lokier wrote:
> Bernd Petrovitsch wrote:
>> If you "develop" an embedded system (which is partly system integration
>> of existing apps) to be installed in the field, you don't have that many
>> conceivable work loads compared to a desktop/server system. And you have
>> a fixed list of drivers and applications.
>
> Hah! Not in my line of embedded device.
>
> 32MB no-MMU ARM boards which people run new things and attach new
> devices to rather often - without making new hardware. Volume's too
> low per individual application to get new hardware designed and made.
>
> I'm seriously thinking of forwarding porting the 4 year old firmware
> from 2.4.26 to 2.6.current, just to get new drivers and capabilities.
> Backporting is tedious, so's feeling wretchedly far from the mainline
> world.
>
>> A usual approach is to run stress tests on several (or all)
>> subsystems/services/... in parallel and if the device survives it
>> functioning correctly, it is at least good enough.
>
> Per application.
>
> Some little devices run hundreds of different applications and
> customers expect to customise, script themselves, and attach different
> devices (over USB). The next customer in the chain expects the bits
> you supplied to work in a variety of unexpected situations, even when
> you advise that it probably won't do that.
>
> Much like desktop/server Linux, but on a small device where silly
> little things like 'create a process' are a stress for the dear little
> thing.
>
> (My biggest lesson: insist on an MMU next time!)

But given you have hardware you can't change would you choose
to not run Linux, even with the limitations of non-MMU?

Hell no :-)

Regards
Greg

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greg Ungerer -- Chief Software Dude EMAIL: gerg-XXXsiaCtIV5Wk0Htik3J/w@public.gmane.org
Secure Computing Corporation PHONE: +61 7 3435 2888
825 Stanley St, FAX: +61 7 3891 3630
Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia WEB: http://www.SnapGear.com