Re: [patch 3/3] mm: keep pages from unevictable mappings off the LRU lists

From: KOSAKI Motohiro
Date: Mon Mar 23 2009 - 05:01:40 EST


> On Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 11:21:36AM +0900, KOSAKI Motohiro wrote:
> > > Hmm,,
> > >
> > > This patch is another thing unlike previous series patches.
> > > Firstly, It looked good to me.
> > >
> > > I think add_to_page_cache_lru have to become a fast path.
> > > But, how often would ramfs and shmem function be called ?
> > >
> > > I have a concern for this patch to add another burden.
> > > so, we need any numbers for getting pros and cons.
> > >
> > > Any thoughts ?
> >
> > this is the just reason why current code don't call add_page_to_unevictable_list().
> > add_page_to_unevictable_list() don't use pagevec. it is needed for avoiding race.
> >
> > then, if readahead path (i.e. add_to_page_cache_lru()) use add_page_to_unevictable_list(),
> > it can cause zone->lru_lock contention storm.
>
> How is it different then shrink_page_list()? If readahead put a
> contiguous chunk of unevictable pages to the file lru, then
> shrink_page_list() will as well call add_page_to_unevictable_list() in
> a loop.

it's probability issue.

readahead: we need to concern
(1) readahead vs readahead
(2) readahead vs reclaim

vmscan: we need to concern
(3) background reclaim vs foreground reclaim

So, (3) is rarely event than (1) and (2).
Am I missing anything?



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