[ILUG] Out of Memory

[David Murphy]

Quoting
<15AD5D7936F8D21198240000F831776E0378B6EC-100000 at dboexc1.dbo.cpqcorp.net>
by Paul Jakma <paul.jakma at compaq.com>:

> > It does not change the fact that Linux does B) instead of A),

> i've never disputed this. i've never argued A (deadlock) was better
> than B (post OOM killing, etc..)

You are, however, arguing that A is acceptable. I'm arguing that it
isn't.

> > when a supposedly stable OS should do A) instead of B).  

> if you get to the stage where you need B, then you are unstable
> already. 

> a *configuration* where stability was the goal would not use
> overcommit at all!!!!! 

Again, I've never heard of anyone doing that - certainly when it comes
to Solaris, I've managed to hear about every other tunable in the
kernel bar the "don't overcommit" one, but I'm sure someone can refer
me to the appropriate documentation.

> at no point did i say that linux's OOM behaviour was good. You've
> missed the entire thrust of my arguments because you incorrectly
> assumed that i was advocating linux. 

You assume I assumed you were advocating Linux. I actually assumed you
were proposing that linux's broken OOM behaviour did not disqualify it
from doing real work. I say it does.

> (blind OS advocay is bad... be it linux, T64, solaris...)

Informed OS choice, however, is a very good thing.

> however until the VM gurus find that magic VM, i will accept that
> linux's OOM behaviour is far worse than that of other unix's.
> Although i do not neccesarily accept that other Unices behave better
> than linux under heavy VM pressure.

> (show me the proof)

I'm starting to envision a "Smash 'n' Hammer" ILUG event with as many
OSes as possible subjected to as many tests as possible 8)

> i remember hanging a solaris 2.4 box by filling up tempfs. does that
> still work?

Solaris 2.4, wow, that's only, what, six years old?

> Anyway, back to point, whatever way you handle OOM doesn't matter
> really, cause it's too late.

It does matter. Don't they have graceful degradation on your planet?

> I'm not advocating "use linux everywhere because it is the one true
> OS". I'm saying, look these are the issues, these are the design
> compromises in xyz, don't disregard AcmeOS because of xyz, because
> xyz is there for a reason, and xyz might even be an advantage...

Do please explain under what circumstances hardhanging is and
advantage.

-- 
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"That's a malicious rumour. I'll run over anyone who repeats it."
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