Re: [PATCH 00/16] mm/slab: introduce new freed objects management way, OBJFREELIST_SLAB

[Joonsoo Kim]

On Tue, Jan 26, 2016 at 08:40:13PM -0800, Andrew Morton wrote:
> On Thu, 14 Jan 2016 14:24:13 +0900 Joonsoo Kim <js1304@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> > This patchset implements new freed object management way, that is,
> > OBJFREELIST_SLAB. Purpose of it is to reduce memory overhead in SLAB.
> > 
> > SLAB needs a array to manage freed objects in a slab. If there is
> > leftover after objects are packed into a slab, we can use it as
> > a management array, and, in this case, there is no memory waste.
> > But, in the other cases, we need to allocate extra memory for
> > a management array or utilize dedicated internal memory in a slab for it.
> > Both cases causes memory waste so it's not good.
> > 
> > With this patchset, freed object itself can be used for a management
> > array. So, memory waste could be reduced. Detailed idea and numbers
> > are described in last patch's commit description. Please refer it.
> > 
> > In fact, I tested another idea implementing OBJFREELIST_SLAB with
> > extendable linked array through another freed object. It can remove
> > memory waste completely but it causes more computational overhead
> > in critical lock path and it seems that overhead outweigh benefit.
> > So, this patchset doesn't include it. I will attach prototype just for
> > a reference.
> 
> It appears that this patchset is perhaps due a couple of touchups from
> Christoph's comments.  I'll grab it as-is as I want to get an mmotm
> into linux-next tomorrow then vanish for a few days.

Hello, Andrew.

Could you add just one small fix below to 16/16 "mm/slab: introduce
new slab management type, OBJFREELIST_SLAB"?

Thanks.


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