Re: Some questions about linux kernel.

From: Khimenko Victor (khim@sch57.msk.ru)
Date: Sat Mar 11 2000 - 22:45:01 EST

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    In <Pine.LNX.4.21.0003111843320.29123-100000@duckman.conectiva> Rik van Riel (riel@conectiva.com.br) wrote:
    RR> On Sat, 11 Mar 2000, Khimenko Victor wrote:

    >> Ok. This discussion is serveral YEARS old. So do not hold you
    >> breath. There were lots and lots of discussion about this and
    >> fewdifferent patches are floating around for ages (in 2.2.15pre
    >> some OOM patches was tried; perhaps 2.2.15 will include one of
    >> them). But ALL patches are designed to help in case of run-away
    >> process and NOT protect against malicious user.
    >>
    >> P.S. Of course if you'll be able to cook up patch and solve this
    >> outstanding problem still not solved after few years of
    >> exercises by Linux's memory wizards you are welcome. Just don't
    >> think it's so easy :-(

    RR> On the contrary, putting together a solution to this
    RR> problem is easy.

    It's not so. SOME solution is easy enough. But is it right solution ?
    This is unclear. To many peoples ANY solution where ANY process can
    be killed is "not right" -- theonly proper solution will be one where
    you'll get NULL from malloc when there are not enough memory.

    RR> The problem has been that people don't understand the issues involved
    RR> and start a flamewar as soon as a patch (re)surfaces.

    Exactly.

    RR> Also, making a solution that everybody agrees with seems
    RR> to be impossible in this situation :)

    Ideal solution will be: solution where
      1) processes will be NEVER killed.
      2) if there are not enough memory malloc just return NULL.
      3) virtual memory is used effectively (that is almost 100% of memory+swap
         can be used for "real data").

    AFAIK you can more or less satisfy any two items but not all three at once...

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