Commit 329007ce authored by Jens Axboe's avatar Jens Axboe

block: update biodoc.txt on plugging

We do per-device plugging, get rid of any references to tq_disk as that
has been dead since 2.6.5 or so.
Signed-off-by: default avatarJens Axboe <jens.axboe@oracle.com>
parent 1d6bfbdf
...@@ -1040,23 +1040,21 @@ Front merges are handled by the binary trees in AS and deadline schedulers. ...@@ -1040,23 +1040,21 @@ Front merges are handled by the binary trees in AS and deadline schedulers.
iii. Plugging the queue to batch requests in anticipation of opportunities for iii. Plugging the queue to batch requests in anticipation of opportunities for
merge/sort optimizations merge/sort optimizations
This is just the same as in 2.4 so far, though per-device unplugging
support is anticipated for 2.5. Also with a priority-based i/o scheduler,
such decisions could be based on request priorities.
Plugging is an approach that the current i/o scheduling algorithm resorts to so Plugging is an approach that the current i/o scheduling algorithm resorts to so
that it collects up enough requests in the queue to be able to take that it collects up enough requests in the queue to be able to take
advantage of the sorting/merging logic in the elevator. If the advantage of the sorting/merging logic in the elevator. If the
queue is empty when a request comes in, then it plugs the request queue queue is empty when a request comes in, then it plugs the request queue
(sort of like plugging the bottom of a vessel to get fluid to build up) (sort of like plugging the bath tub of a vessel to get fluid to build up)
till it fills up with a few more requests, before starting to service till it fills up with a few more requests, before starting to service
the requests. This provides an opportunity to merge/sort the requests before the requests. This provides an opportunity to merge/sort the requests before
passing them down to the device. There are various conditions when the queue is passing them down to the device. There are various conditions when the queue is
unplugged (to open up the flow again), either through a scheduled task or unplugged (to open up the flow again), either through a scheduled task or
could be on demand. For example wait_on_buffer sets the unplugging going could be on demand. For example wait_on_buffer sets the unplugging going
(by running tq_disk) so the read gets satisfied soon. So in the read case, through sync_buffer() running blk_run_address_space(mapping). Or the caller
the queue gets explicitly unplugged as part of waiting for completion, can do it explicity through blk_unplug(bdev). So in the read case,
in fact all queues get unplugged as a side-effect. the queue gets explicitly unplugged as part of waiting for completion on that
buffer. For page driven IO, the address space ->sync_page() takes care of
doing the blk_run_address_space().
Aside: Aside:
This is kind of controversial territory, as it's not clear if plugging is This is kind of controversial territory, as it's not clear if plugging is
...@@ -1067,11 +1065,6 @@ Aside: ...@@ -1067,11 +1065,6 @@ Aside:
multi-page bios being queued in one shot, we may not need to wait to merge multi-page bios being queued in one shot, we may not need to wait to merge
a big request from the broken up pieces coming by. a big request from the broken up pieces coming by.
Per-queue granularity unplugging (still a Todo) may help reduce some of the
concerns with just a single tq_disk flush approach. Something like
blk_kick_queue() to unplug a specific queue (right away ?)
or optionally, all queues, is in the plan.
4.4 I/O contexts 4.4 I/O contexts
I/O contexts provide a dynamically allocated per process data area. They may I/O contexts provide a dynamically allocated per process data area. They may
be used in I/O schedulers, and in the block layer (could be used for IO statis, be used in I/O schedulers, and in the block layer (could be used for IO statis,
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