compaction_alloc() isolates free pages to be used as migration targets. While its scanning, IRQs are disabled on the mistaken assumption the scanning should be short. Analysis showed that IRQs were in fact being disabled for substantial time. A simple test was run using large anonymous mappings with transparent hugepage support enabled to trigger frequent compactions. A monitor sampled what the worst IRQ-off latencies were and a post-processing tool found the following; Total sampled time IRQs off (not real total time): 22355 Event compaction_alloc..compaction_alloc 8409 us count 1 Event compaction_alloc..compaction_alloc 7341 us count 1 Event compaction_alloc..compaction_alloc 2463 us count 1 Event compaction_alloc..compaction_alloc 2054 us count 1 Event shrink_inactive_list..shrink_zone 1864 us count 1 Event shrink_inactive_list..shrink_zone 88 us count 1 Event save_args..call_softirq 36 us count 1 Event save_args..call_softirq 35 us count 2 Event __make_request..__blk_run_queue 24 us count 1 Event __alloc_pages_nodemask..__alloc_pages_nodemask 6 us count 1 i.e. compaction is disabled IRQs for a prolonged period of time - 8ms in one instance. The full report generated by the tool can be found at http://www.csn.ul.ie/~mel/postings/minfree-20110225/irqsoff-vanilla-micro.report . This patch reduces the time IRQs are disabled by simply disabling IRQs at the last possible minute. An updated IRQs-off summary report then looks like; Total sampled time IRQs off (not real total time): 5493 Event shrink_inactive_list..shrink_zone 1596 us count 1 Event shrink_inactive_list..shrink_zone 1530 us count 1 Event shrink_inactive_list..shrink_zone 956 us count 1 Event shrink_inactive_list..shrink_zone 541 us count 1 Event shrink_inactive_list..shrink_zone 531 us count 1 Event split_huge_page..add_to_swap 232 us count 1 Event save_args..call_softirq 36 us count 1 Event save_args..call_softirq 35 us count 2 Event __wake_up..__wake_up 1 us count 1 A full report is again available at http://www.csn.ul.ie/~mel/postings/minfree-20110225/irqsoff-minimiseirq-free-v1r4-micro.report . . As should be obvious, IRQ disabled latencies due to compaction are almost elimimnated for this particular test. [aarcange@xxxxxxxxxx: Fix initialisation of isolated] Signed-off-by: Mel Gorman <mel@xxxxxxxxx> --- mm/compaction.c | 18 +++++++++++++----- 1 files changed, 13 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-) diff --git a/mm/compaction.c b/mm/compaction.c index 8be430b8..11d88a2 100644 --- a/mm/compaction.c +++ b/mm/compaction.c @@ -155,7 +155,6 @@ static void isolate_freepages(struct zone *zone, * pages on cc->migratepages. We stop searching if the migrate * and free page scanners meet or enough free pages are isolated. */ - spin_lock_irqsave(&zone->lock, flags); for (; pfn > low_pfn && cc->nr_migratepages > nr_freepages; pfn -= pageblock_nr_pages) { unsigned long isolated; @@ -178,9 +177,19 @@ static void isolate_freepages(struct zone *zone, if (!suitable_migration_target(page)) continue; - /* Found a block suitable for isolating free pages from */ - isolated = isolate_freepages_block(zone, pfn, freelist); - nr_freepages += isolated; + /* + * Found a block suitable for isolating free pages from. Now + * we disabled interrupts, double check things are ok and + * isolate the pages. This is to minimise the time IRQs + * are disabled + */ + isolated = 0; + spin_lock_irqsave(&zone->lock, flags); + if (suitable_migration_target(page)) { + isolated = isolate_freepages_block(zone, pfn, freelist); + nr_freepages += isolated; + } + spin_unlock_irqrestore(&zone->lock, flags); /* * Record the highest PFN we isolated pages from. When next @@ -190,7 +199,6 @@ static void isolate_freepages(struct zone *zone, if (isolated) high_pfn = max(high_pfn, pfn); } - spin_unlock_irqrestore(&zone->lock, flags); /* split_free_page does not map the pages */ list_for_each_entry(page, freelist, lru) { -- 1.7.2.3 -- To unsubscribe, send a message with 'unsubscribe linux-mm' in the body to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxx For more info on Linux MM, see: http://www.linux-mm.org/ . Fight unfair telecom internet charges in Canada: sign http://stopthemeter.ca/ Don't email: <a href=mailto:"dont@xxxxxxxxx";> email@xxxxxxxxx </a>