Re: [PATCH 4/4] fdtable: Implement new pagesize-based fdtable allocation scheme.

[Vadim Lobanov <vlobanov@speakeasy.net>]

On Monday 02 October 2006 03:01, Andi Kleen wrote:
> Vadim Lobanov <vlobanov@speakeasy.net> writes:
> > The allocation algorithm sizes the fdarray in such a way that its memory
> > usage increases in easy page-sized chunks. Additionally, it tries to
> > account for the optimal usage of the allocators involved: kmalloc() for
> > sizes less than a page, and vmalloc() with page granularity for sizes
> > greater than a page.
>
> Best would be to avoid vmalloc() completely because it can be quite
> costly

It's possible. This switch between kmalloc() and vmalloc() was there in the 
original code, and I didn't feel safe ripping it out right now. We can always 
explore this approach too, however.

What is the origin and history of this particular code? (It's been there since 
at least 2.4.x.) Who put in the switch between the two allocators, and for 
what reason? Is that reason still valid?

> -Andi

Thanks for the input.

-- Vadim Lobanov