Re: MD Raid 6: poor algorithm choice?

[Chris Boot <bootc@bootc.net>]

thunder7@xs4all.nl wrote:
> From: Chris Boot <bootc@bootc.net>
> Date: Thu, Feb 23, 2006 at 06:00:10PM +0000
>   
>> Hi all,
>>
>> [4295106.474000] raid6: mmxx2     2500 MB/s
>> [4295106.521000] raid6: sse1x2    2339 MB/s
>> [4295106.524000] raid6: using algorithm sse1x2 (2339 MB/s)
>> [4295106.531000] md: raid6 personality registered for level 6
>>
>> I just loaded the raid6 module for fun (might end up using it one day), and 
>> I was surprised at its choice of algorithm. By the messages above, I would 
>> have assumed it would choose the mmxx2 algorithm at 2500 MB/s instead of 
>> sse1x2 at the slightly slower 2339 MB/s. This is probably entirely expected 
>> behaviour, but why?
>>
>>     
> Because it is more cache-efficient (allows the other code to run at a
> higher speed). This comes up now and again, perhaps these messages
> should be rephrased.
>   
I knew there would be a good reason for this, I just couldn't figure it 
out from those messages. That's a very good explanation indeed, and as 
you say, perhaps the messages should be updated.

Cheers,
Chris

-- 
Chris Boot
bootc@bootc.net