Re: [PATCH] Patch to Memory Subsystem ... (Needed?)

Stefan Monnier (monnier+lists/linux/kernel/news/@tequila.cs.yale.edu)
07 Nov 1998 11:40:44 -0500


>>>>> "Brian" == Brian Schau <bsc@fleggaard.dk> writes:
> But 'rootpages' doesn't affect UID 0 operations. Root *can* eat all
> memory if (s)he likes ...

My problem with your approach is the following:
How do you define `root' ?
Let's say I get into a situation where freespace <= rootspace. That means that
non-root processes will not be able to get any further pages (if they're lucky,
they'll get malloc=NULL, else they'll just be killed). Fine.
But now comes a process owned by root. What do you do ? This process might be
a getty+sh+ps+kill to clean things up as you hope, but it might also be
sendmail responding to a new connection (or any other root-owned process).
How do you tell one from the other ?

Stefan

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