Re: [RFC PATCH v1 0/3] Saving power by cpu evacuation usingsched_mc=n

From: Ingo Molnar
Date: Tue Apr 28 2009 - 04:53:24 EST



* Peter Zijlstra <a.p.zijlstra@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> > > Also, the user interface should be that single thermal
> > > capacity knob, more fine grained control is undesired.
> >
> > For power savings, a single evacuation knob will do. While for
> > thermal we will need additional parameters to choose the right
> > cores to evacuate. Some sort of directional/vector parameter.
>
> Why? are machines that non-uniform in cooling capacity that it
> really matters which core generates the heat? Sounds like badly
> designed hardware to me.
>
> I would expect it to only be the total head generated/power taken
> from the rack unit.

If we add thermal throttling at the kernel level then a single knob
(with a percentile-ish unit) is probably the furthest we will go -
with "not doing it at all" still being the other, very tempting
alternative.

If the only technical way you can find to do it is via myriads of
non-intuitive knobs and per core settings - then the answer is
really 'no thanks'.

Ingo
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