Re: [RFC] [PATCH] more support for memory-less-node.

From: Martin J. Bligh
Date: Tue Feb 13 2007 - 12:11:03 EST


KAMEZAWA Hiroyuki wrote:
In my last posintg, mempolicy-fix-for-memory-less-node patch, there was a discussion 'what do you consider definition of "node" as...?
I found there is no consensus. But I want to go ahead.
Before posing patch again, I'd like to discuss more.

-Kame

In my understanding, a "node" is a block of cpu, memory, devices.
and there could be cpu-only-node, memory-only-node, device-only-node...

There will be discussion. IMHO, to represent hardware configuration
as it is, this definition is very natural and flexible.
(And because my work is memory-hotplug, this definition fits me.)

"Don't support such crazy configuraton" is one of opinions.
I hear x86_64 doesn't support it and defines node as a block of memory,
It remaps cpus on memory-less-nodes to other nodes.
I know ia64 allows memory-less-node. (I don't know about ppc.)
It works well on my box (and HP's box).

It doesn't make much sense for an architecture independent structure to
be "defined" in different ways by specific architectures. "not
supported" or "currently broken" might be a better description.

Your description of the node is correct, it's an arbitrary container of
one or more resources. Not only is this definition flexible, it's also
very useful, for memory hotplug, odd types of NUMA boxes, etc.

M.
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