linux/kernel
Rafael J. Wysocki b7eaf1aab9 cpufreq: schedutil: Avoid reducing frequency of busy CPUs prematurely
The way the schedutil governor uses the PELT metric causes it to
underestimate the CPU utilization in some cases.

That can be easily demonstrated by running kernel compilation on
a Sandy Bridge Intel processor, running turbostat in parallel with
it and looking at the values written to the MSR_IA32_PERF_CTL
register.  Namely, the expected result would be that when all CPUs
were 100% busy, all of them would be requested to run in the maximum
P-state, but observation shows that this clearly isn't the case.
The CPUs run in the maximum P-state for a while and then are
requested to run slower and go back to the maximum P-state after
a while again.  That causes the actual frequency of the processor to
visibly oscillate below the sustainable maximum in a jittery fashion
which clearly is not desirable.

That has been attributed to CPU utilization metric updates on task
migration that cause the total utilization value for the CPU to be
reduced by the utilization of the migrated task.  If that happens,
the schedutil governor may see a CPU utilization reduction and will
attempt to reduce the CPU frequency accordingly right away.  That
may be premature, though, for example if the system is generally
busy and there are other runnable tasks waiting to be run on that
CPU already.

This is unlikely to be an issue on systems where cpufreq policies are
shared between multiple CPUs, because in those cases the policy
utilization is computed as the maximum of the CPU utilization values
over the whole policy and if that turns out to be low, reducing the
frequency for the policy most likely is a good idea anyway.  On
systems with one CPU per policy, however, it may affect performance
adversely and even lead to increased energy consumption in some cases.

On those systems it may be addressed by taking another utilization
metric into consideration, like whether or not the CPU whose
frequency is about to be reduced has been idle recently, because if
that's not the case, the CPU is likely to be busy in the near future
and its frequency should not be reduced.

To that end, use the counter of idle calls in the timekeeping code.
Namely, make the schedutil governor look at that counter for the
current CPU every time before its frequency is about to be reduced.
If the counter has not changed since the previous iteration of the
governor computations for that CPU, the CPU has been busy for all
that time and its frequency should not be decreased, so if the new
frequency would be lower than the one set previously, the governor
will skip the frequency update.

Signed-off-by: Rafael J. Wysocki <rafael.j.wysocki@intel.com>
Acked-by: Peter Zijlstra (Intel) <peterz@infradead.org>
Acked-by: Viresh Kumar <viresh.kumar@linaro.org>
Reviewed-by: Joel Fernandes <joelaf@google.com>
2017-03-23 02:12:14 +01:00
..
bpf Merge git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/davem/net 2017-03-04 17:31:39 -08:00
cgroup scripts/spelling.txt: add "disble(d)" pattern and fix typo instances 2017-03-09 17:01:09 -08:00
configs config: android-base: enable hardened usercopy and kernel ASLR 2017-02-27 18:43:46 -08:00
debug sched/headers: Prepare for new header dependencies before moving code to <linux/sched/debug.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:34 +01:00
events scripts/spelling.txt: add "disble(d)" pattern and fix typo instances 2017-03-09 17:01:09 -08:00
gcov
irq sched/headers: Prepare to move the get_task_struct()/put_task_struct() and related APIs from <linux/sched.h> to <linux/sched/task.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:40 +01:00
livepatch livepatch/module: make TAINT_LIVEPATCH module-specific 2016-08-26 14:42:08 +02:00
locking Merge branch 'locking-urgent-for-linus' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/tip/tip 2017-03-07 14:33:11 -08:00
power Merge branch 'WIP.sched-core-for-linus' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/tip/tip 2017-03-03 10:16:38 -08:00
printk sched/headers: Prepare for new header dependencies before moving code to <linux/sched/task_stack.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:36 +01:00
rcu sched/headers: Prepare for new header dependencies before moving code to <linux/sched/debug.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:34 +01:00
sched cpufreq: schedutil: Avoid reducing frequency of busy CPUs prematurely 2017-03-23 02:12:14 +01:00
time cpufreq: schedutil: Avoid reducing frequency of busy CPUs prematurely 2017-03-23 02:12:14 +01:00
trace scripts/spelling.txt: add "overide" pattern and fix typo instances 2017-03-09 17:01:09 -08:00
.gitignore
acct.c sched/headers: Prepare to move cputime functionality from <linux/sched.h> into <linux/sched/cputime.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:39 +01:00
async.c
audit_fsnotify.c Merge branch 'for-linus' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/viro/vfs 2016-12-17 18:44:00 -08:00
audit_tree.c Merge branch 'stable-4.10' of git://git.infradead.org/users/pcmoore/audit 2017-01-05 23:06:06 -08:00
audit_watch.c Merge branch 'for-linus' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/viro/vfs 2016-12-17 18:44:00 -08:00
audit.c Merge branch 'stable-4.11' of git://git.infradead.org/users/pcmoore/audit 2017-02-21 13:25:50 -08:00
audit.h Merge branch 'stable-4.11' of git://git.infradead.org/users/pcmoore/audit 2017-02-21 13:25:50 -08:00
auditfilter.c audit: add support for session ID user filter 2016-11-29 15:10:12 -05:00
auditsc.c Merge branch 'stable-4.11' of git://git.infradead.org/users/pcmoore/audit 2017-02-21 13:25:50 -08:00
backtracetest.c
bounds.c
capability.c capability: export has_capability 2017-01-12 07:01:56 -07:00
compat.c Replace <asm/uaccess.h> with <linux/uaccess.h> globally 2016-12-24 11:46:01 -08:00
configs.c Replace <asm/uaccess.h> with <linux/uaccess.h> globally 2016-12-24 11:46:01 -08:00
context_tracking.c
cpu_pm.c
cpu.c sched/headers: Prepare for new header dependencies before moving code to <linux/sched/task.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:35 +01:00
crash_dump.c
cred.c sched/headers: Prepare for new header dependencies before moving code to <linux/sched/coredump.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:28 +01:00
delayacct.c sched/headers: Prepare to move cputime functionality from <linux/sched.h> into <linux/sched/cputime.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:39 +01:00
dma.c
elfcore.c
exec_domain.c
exit.c userfaultfd: non-cooperative: rollback userfaultfd_exit 2017-03-09 17:01:09 -08:00
extable.c Merge git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/davem/net-next 2017-02-22 10:15:09 -08:00
fork.c sched/headers, RCU: Move rcu_copy_process() from <linux/sched/task.h> to kernel/fork.c 2017-03-03 01:43:46 +01:00
freezer.c freezer, oom: check TIF_MEMDIE on the correct task 2016-07-28 16:07:41 -07:00
futex_compat.c Replace <asm/uaccess.h> with <linux/uaccess.h> globally 2016-12-24 11:46:01 -08:00
futex.c sched/headers: Prepare for new header dependencies before moving code to <linux/sched/mm.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:28 +01:00
groups.c Replace <asm/uaccess.h> with <linux/uaccess.h> globally 2016-12-24 11:46:01 -08:00
hung_task.c sched/headers: Prepare for new header dependencies before moving code to <linux/sched/debug.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:34 +01:00
irq_work.c
jump_label.c This release has no new tracing features, just clean ups, minor fixes 2017-02-27 13:26:17 -08:00
kallsyms.c bpf: make jited programs visible in traces 2017-02-17 13:40:05 -05:00
kcmp.c
Kconfig.freezer
Kconfig.hz
Kconfig.locks locking/mutex: Allow MUTEX_SPIN_ON_OWNER when DEBUG_MUTEXES 2016-10-25 11:31:51 +02:00
Kconfig.preempt
kcov.c kcov: make kcov work properly with KASLR enabled 2016-12-20 09:48:47 -08:00
kexec_core.c Merge branch 'for-linus' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/pmladek/printk 2017-02-22 17:33:34 -08:00
kexec_file.c kexec, x86/purgatory: Unbreak it and clean it up 2017-03-10 20:55:09 +01:00
kexec_internal.h kexec, x86/purgatory: Unbreak it and clean it up 2017-03-10 20:55:09 +01:00
kexec.c kexec: allow architectures to override boot mapping 2016-08-02 19:35:27 -04:00
kmod.c sched/headers, vfs/execve: Prepare to move the do_execve*() prototypes from <linux/sched.h> to <linux/binfmts.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:39 +01:00
kprobes.c powerpc updates for 4.11 part 1. 2017-02-22 10:30:38 -08:00
ksysfs.c kernel/ksysfs.c: add __ro_after_init to bin_attribute structure 2017-02-24 17:46:56 -08:00
kthread.c sched/headers: Prepare for new header dependencies before moving code to <linux/sched/task.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:35 +01:00
latencytop.c sched/headers: Prepare to move sched_info_on() and force_schedstat_enabled() from <linux/sched.h> to <linux/sched/stat.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:39 +01:00
Makefile cgroup: move cgroup files under kernel/cgroup/ 2016-12-27 14:49:05 -05:00
membarrier.c Fix: Disable sys_membarrier when nohz_full is enabled 2017-01-23 11:32:16 -08:00
memremap.c mm, devm_memremap_pages: hold device_hotplug lock over mem_hotplug_{begin, done} 2017-02-24 17:46:53 -08:00
module_signing.c
module-internal.h
module.c Modules updates for v4.11 2017-02-22 17:08:33 -08:00
notifier.c kernel/notifier.c: simplify expression 2017-02-24 17:46:56 -08:00
nsproxy.c
padata.c padata: Remove unused but set variables 2016-10-25 11:08:10 +08:00
panic.c sched/headers: Prepare for new header dependencies before moving code to <linux/sched/debug.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:34 +01:00
params.c
pid_namespace.c sched/headers: Prepare for the reduction of <linux/sched.h>'s signal API dependency 2017-03-02 08:42:37 +01:00
pid.c sched/headers: Prepare for new header dependencies before moving code to <linux/sched/task.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:35 +01:00
profile.c sched/headers: Prepare to move sched_info_on() and force_schedstat_enabled() from <linux/sched.h> to <linux/sched/stat.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:39 +01:00
ptrace.c sched/headers: Prepare for new header dependencies before moving code to <linux/sched/task.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:35 +01:00
range.c
reboot.c
relay.c lib/vsprintf.c: remove %Z support 2017-02-27 18:43:47 -08:00
resource.c
seccomp.c sched/headers: Prepare for new header dependencies before moving code to <linux/sched/task_stack.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:36 +01:00
signal.c sched/headers: Prepare to move cputime functionality from <linux/sched.h> into <linux/sched/cputime.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:39 +01:00
smp.c sched/headers: Prepare for new header dependencies before moving code to <linux/sched/idle.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:26 +01:00
smpboot.c sched/headers: Prepare for new header dependencies before moving code to <linux/sched/task.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:35 +01:00
smpboot.h
softirq.c softirq: Display IRQ_POLL for irq-poll statistics 2016-10-21 15:45:47 -06:00
stacktrace.c stacktrace, lockdep: Fix address, newline ugliness 2017-02-08 08:21:31 +01:00
stop_machine.c locking/core, stop_machine: Yield the CPU during stop machine() 2016-11-16 10:15:09 +01:00
sys_ni.c move aio compat to fs/aio.c 2016-12-22 22:58:37 -05:00
sys.c sched/headers: Prepare to move cputime functionality from <linux/sched.h> into <linux/sched/cputime.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:39 +01:00
sysctl_binary.c sysctl: add KERN_CONT to deprecated_sysctl_warning() 2016-12-14 16:04:07 -08:00
sysctl.c sched/headers: Prepare for new header dependencies before moving code to <linux/sched/coredump.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:28 +01:00
task_work.c task_work: use READ_ONCE/lockless_dereference, avoid pi_lock if !task_works 2016-08-02 19:35:02 -04:00
taskstats.c Merge git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/davem/net 2016-11-15 10:54:36 -05:00
test_kprobes.c
torture.c sched/headers: Prepare for new header dependencies before moving code to <linux/sched/clock.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:27 +01:00
tracepoint.c sched/headers: Prepare for new header dependencies before moving code to <linux/sched/task.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:35 +01:00
tsacct.c sched/headers: Prepare to move cputime functionality from <linux/sched.h> into <linux/sched/cputime.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:39 +01:00
ucount.c ucount: Remove the atomicity from ucount->count 2017-03-06 15:26:37 -06:00
uid16.c sched/headers: Prepare to remove <linux/cred.h> inclusion from <linux/sched.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:31 +01:00
up.c smp: Add function to execute a function synchronously on a CPU 2016-09-05 13:52:39 +02:00
user_namespace.c sched/headers: Prepare for new header dependencies before moving code to <linux/sched/signal.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:29 +01:00
user-return-notifier.c
user.c sched/headers: Prepare for new header dependencies before moving code to <linux/sched/user.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:29 +01:00
utsname_sysctl.c sched/headers: Remove <linux/rwsem.h> from <linux/sched.h> 2017-03-03 01:45:36 +01:00
utsname.c sched/headers: Prepare to move the task_lock()/unlock() APIs to <linux/sched/task.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:38 +01:00
watchdog_hld.c sched/headers: Prepare for new header dependencies before moving code to <linux/sched/debug.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:34 +01:00
watchdog.c sched/headers: Prepare for new header dependencies before moving code to <linux/sched/debug.h> 2017-03-02 08:42:34 +01:00
workqueue_internal.h
workqueue.c time: Remove CONFIG_TIMER_STATS 2017-02-10 11:15:08 +01:00