2a2e48854d
Since commit 59dc76b0d4df ("mm: vmscan: reduce size of inactive file
list") we noticed bigger IO spikes during changes in cache access
patterns.
The patch in question shrunk the inactive list size to leave more room
for the current workingset in the presence of streaming IO. However,
workingset transitions that previously happened on the inactive list are
now pushed out of memory and incur more refaults to complete.
This patch disables active list protection when refaults are being
observed. This accelerates workingset transitions, and allows more of
the new set to establish itself from memory, without eating into the
ability to protect the established workingset during stable periods.
The workloads that were measurably affected for us were hit pretty bad
by it, with refault/majfault rates doubling and tripling during cache
transitions, and the machines sustaining half-hour periods of 100% IO
utilization, where they'd previously have sub-minute peaks at 60-90%.
Stateful services that handle user data tend to be more conservative
with kernel upgrades. As a result we hit most page cache issues with
some delay, as was the case here.
The severity seemed to warrant a stable tag.
Fixes: 59dc76b0d4df ("mm: vmscan: reduce size of inactive file list")
Link: http://lkml.kernel.org/r/20170404220052.27593-1-hannes@cmpxchg.org
Signed-off-by: Johannes Weiner <hannes@cmpxchg.org>
Cc: Rik van Riel <riel@redhat.com>
Cc: Mel Gorman <mgorman@suse.de>
Cc: Michal Hocko <mhocko@suse.com>
Cc: Vladimir Davydov <vdavydov.dev@gmail.com>
Cc: <stable@vger.kernel.org> [4.7+]
Signed-off-by: Andrew Morton <akpm@linux-foundation.org>
Signed-off-by: Linus Torvalds <torvalds@linux-foundation.org>
Linux kernel ============ This file was moved to Documentation/admin-guide/README.rst Please notice that there are several guides for kernel developers and users. These guides can be rendered in a number of formats, like HTML and PDF. In order to build the documentation, use ``make htmldocs`` or ``make pdfdocs``. There are various text files in the Documentation/ subdirectory, several of them using the Restructured Text markup notation. See Documentation/00-INDEX for a list of what is contained in each file. Please read the Documentation/process/changes.rst file, as it contains the requirements for building and running the kernel, and information about the problems which may result by upgrading your kernel.